The next morning, just as the barkeep is serving up a huge pot of porridge accompanied by flat breads and honey, Henry de le Maistre turns up at the The Drover.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:08, Wed 09 Mar 2016.

Henry helps himself to a bowl of porridge and stirs a little honey into it.  ”Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to start on our expedition this morning.  It was my intention to accompany you this day, but I have been delayed here in Restov.  The first Swordlord has asked for my presence, and I don’t think it is wise to gainsay her request.  Unfortunately, it means that I will not be able to travel with you.

There are riding horses in the pens for those of you who want them, and they are a couple of pack ponies with a two large tents, basic foods and cooking utensils.  I want you to follow the South Rostland  Road to Oleg’s trade post.  Stop at Nivakta’s Crossing, and Fort Serenko and it is about two days travel beyond there.  Once you are there, establish yourself at the trading post and make yourselves familiar with the surrounding area, I should arrive two or three days behind you.”

Henry looks around the room before settling on d’Cordain, and tossing him a purse.  ”there is twenty gold there, that should last you for a few days, but spend it frugally.” He warns, ”Just in case I am delayed for longer than I anticipate.

"Any questions?

---

OOC

The Charter is now available in the Gossip thread
Game map updated.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Wed 09 Mar 2016.

Borric caught the pouch of gold. He opened the pouch to make sure the coins were as he said. "Do we have a copy of the charter? It would help to have it to show those at the trading post. Without it, we could be mistaken for brigands." He tucked the pouch of gold into his belt, "Would someone be able to help me by starting a ledger? We received twenty gold coins. We should record all expenses on the ledger for our employer."

Vik rose with the grumbling sullenness of a person who'd drank both ale and wine the night before. She'd diced the night before with some merchants, and been sorry to be parted with her coppers.

Picking up a bowl of porridge she drizzled some honey on it and listened to Henry.

No questions occured to her, so Vik walked over to the innkeep

"Looks like we are moving out this morning, how much money do I have left?"

Henry half smiles at the though of a Paladin of Iomedae being mistaken for a brigand, but his reponse is less humerous.  "There isn't really anyone out there to mistake us for anything.  That, I suspect, is the main reason they are sending us, and the reason I have recruited such a large and multitalented group." He says using his arm to indicate the group as a whole. "While I have been chartered to explore and map the area, there is a clause that tasks me, and you as my agents,  to execute summary justice on brigands, bandits, pirates and the like."

After a moment's thought he continues  "Although that is a good thought.  There isn't a copy of the charter that you can take  with you, however I will think of something and bring it with me when I join  you at Oleg's. In the interim, the offer of payment, rather that than trying to take Oleg's goods should suffice to show your good intentions." Henry finishes with a bit of a smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Thu 10 Mar 2016.

Moto sat with his hat on, eating his porridge, knowing they had a long day before them. When Henry de le Maistre showed up, Moto thought they would all be leaving soon. The news that Henry would not be joining them at first, worried Moto a bit. They where now leaderless for the moment, at least until Henry returned. Seeing that Borric was trusted with the funds, Moto had no questions. Although he would take one of the riding horses Henry offered. “I am going to see to one of these riding horses.”

Walking over to the Barkeeper, Moto put his empty bowl and put one gold piece down for him. “A tip for your good food and service.” Walking out to the pens, Moto picked a horse and got ready to move out.

"Lets see," the barkeep responds to Vik "There was six mugs of ale, they cost four coppers apiece, so  two silvers and four copper for that.  The jug of wine was two silver pieces.  And I think there might have been another ale after that, but I'll throw that one in.  That leaves you with five silvers and four coppers." He says starting to count the coin out.

"Thank you, Sir."  he responds and Mota comes across to return the bowl and leave him a tip.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Fri 11 Mar 2016.

Bai stands and reaches into her backpack, a journal tumbles out and she sighs with slight annoyance. With an eyeroll, she points at the journal and mumbles and it floats up in front of her and she begins writing, flipping through the pages as she does. "I'll happily keep a running ledger. Let's see... Andoven, myself, Borric, Moto, Percy, Pipre, Rikka, Rook, Vik, and the party as a whole..." She looks up and scans the room for a moment, "I don't believe I'm forgetting anyone, speak up if I did forget you."

Rook, after introducing himself to the group as a whole, was content to remain silent and enjoy the company during dinner. He was most likely the first to leave and retire to his bunk.

The next morning he was just as early to rise. Well before the sun was up the young man left the Inn as quietly as possible. He didn't return until breakfast was served, hair still damp and skin glowing. Smiling broadly, he silently greeted everyone and took an empty seat. As the conversation began, he served himself like the others.

"Excuse me," Rook said, wiping his mouth. "What does summary justice mean?"

"It means that if we come across unrepentant bandits, who won't come back to Restov for trial, we should put them to the sword, or hang them, then and there." The expedition leader responds tersely.

"In the case of banditry, the punishment is clear and the charter empowers us as judge, jury and executioner."  Henry adds rounding the explanation out.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Thu 10 Mar 2016.

"Way I see it, if people are going and stabbing people for money instead of working for it, they probably deserve to get stabbed in turn" Rikka supplied.  "That the higher ups say we can do it is just pure bonus!"

In reply to Barkeep (msg # 7):

"I won't have it said I don't pay my way. If I drank that ale, I shall pay for it. If I didn't, the four coppers shan't be missed."

Vik placed four coppers on the bar, along with seven silvers

"And seven silvers, for good luck I would hope."

And with that Vik took to moving her equipment to her horse, sharpening her axes and shortswords

"Thank you Ma'am." the barkeep responds good-naturedly as he pockets the coins.  "And may that luck be with you."

Finishing with her notations, Bai placed the pen in a small pocket on her sleeve and motioned for the journal to return to her backpack, which it did. "Well it looks like a number of our group is ready to get moving. Is there anything else you think we need to know before setting off?" She directed her question at de la Maistre, though her eyes moved from person to person as she spoke.

"Alright." Borric raised his voice for all to hear. "Let's get on the road. How about we take a few minutes to secure our gear and we assemble with the horses in fifteen minutes." He considered the horses. He picked one that was larger than most. He lead it around the yard for a moment before he mounted the horse. About fifteen minutes later, he announced. "Everybody ready? Let's move out."

Roused at some ungodly hour by the noise around him, Percy eventually realises that not only are his companions up and about, but also packing up their belongings, ready to take to the road.  With a groan, the young gentleman staggers from his cot, dressing and performing the necessities of the morning as swiftly as he can, before making his way to the common room, in time to hear Borric's call to move out.

Eyeing the remains of breakfast wistfully, Percy grabs a couple of pieces of flatbread, dipping one in honey and, pausing only to thank the Innkeeper and drop a handful of silver in his hand, heads for the stables with the rest, munching on his meagre meal. 

"Everyone's up early," he notes, conversationally, if somewhat blearily as he tries to pick the quietest of the steeds.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Sat 12 Mar 2016.

De le Maistre is happy to engage in small conversation, but has nothing to add when Bai asks if there is more they should know, agrees happily when Borric suggests they set off soon and rolls his eyes as Percy finally stumbles out of bed.

The horses are all fairly docile, and come in a variety of shapes sizes asnd colours.  They range from s a short, stout  cob right the way through so something you would probably expect to see pulling a farmer's wagon.  All of them are very docile with well worn saddle and tack.  There are a couple of lads there, who have  just finished loading the communal gear onto the pack ponies, who can help out, if you need it.


OOC:  Feel free to describe and name your horse, if that suits your character / style of play :)
I am off re-enacting shortly and won't be back until sometime tomorrow.  The next 'move on' post will likely be Sunday evening or Monday morning.

"Wait, now, hold on." Rook stammers, holding a hand up as everyone begins to scatter. "That's a huge responsibility to just lay on a group of people. Have you hired anyone with that kind of experience? I've never shot anyone, much less killed."

The young man shifted in his seat, leaning onto the table towards Henry. "And you haven't put someone in charge to lead until you arrive. What happens if we disagree with each other? Haven't you put a little more thought into this besides just hiring a group of strangers and throwing them to the wilderness?"

Percy's eyes widen at Rook's outburst, his gaze flicking from Henry to Borric ... then hurriedly continues on the stables to busy himself selecting a mount that's of the size of those he's ridden previously, checking that the tack is in good order, worn though it be, and lashing his pack behind the saddle.

In reply to Rook Sanderson (msg # 18):

Vik shook her head at the prospect of killing bandits being a huge responsibility

"Don't worry Rook, I'll kill twice as many, make up your quota."

On the subject of leadership though, much as it wasn't a subject she liked, Vik had to agree

"We do need a leader, I propose one of the more typical nobles among us. But it'd do well to hold your tongue when speaking to our employer, if doubts are in your mind."

Vik wheeled to face de la Maistre and bowed stiffly

"Apologies on Rook's behalf."

Bai slowly begins to gather her gear, "I would also like to point out that our primary purpose isn't wholesale slaughter. We are here for exploratory purposes, if we have to deal out justice, then we will. Still it isn't why we are here, so I don't think you need to focus on that too much." She pulled her bag onto her shoulder and continued, "As for leadership, I concur that one of us in the noble class should hold that role, but since we've got a few days on of travel ahead, I assume we can pass the time with that conversation."

His brows furrowed at Vik, but he looked concerned and not angry. "Don't do anything on my behalf, I'm capable, thank you. And I won't hold my tongue, especially when I have doubts. I'm being paid to explore, not murder. I'll see justice is done, but it'll be fair and honest. Killing for the sake of killing is not the Brevic way. The only difference between us and them are the choices we make."

Pipre whistled at the sorry state of the mounts, tucking her thumbs into the belt of her shorts and giving a long appraising glance. At last she picks a shaggy looking, grey, and old gelding because the name 'Ragweed' pops into mind when she saw the creature. And she chooses a gelding because they are more likely to not care about other animals, and she planned to have a lead rope to Thistle. She employed the help of the stable boys to get Thistle and Ragweed prepared to go and then waited out near the road for the others to be finished with their bickering and posturing, chewing on a long stalk of grass in her idleness.

Borric turned to view those that voiced that a person from the noble class should take leadership of their group. "Then do one of you expect to lead? Does simply being a member of one of the noble houses qualify you? Or must one be of blood-relations?" Borric had witnessed these types of prejudice in his travels.

"I had assumed the House of Cordain's own sword would lead us. Seemed he was suited."

Vik winked at Berroc

"Or is the seat of command not something Iomedae approves of?"

Indeed, Percy is somewhat regretting his rush as he halts his mount near Pipre, breakfast, such as it was, long since consumed.  "Did I miss anything important ?" he asks the young woman as he pats his steed's neck, his gaze flicking over but not lingering upon her singed tresses, though from his languid tones and the lack of concern in his voice, it seems the question is more for the sake of polite conversation.

"I don't see how you possibly could have," she returns to Percy, barely raising her one and a half eyebrows and briefly looking side-long at the man. She didn't seem at all phased by the job or prospect of striking out upon it. In fact, if anything she appeared to be rather in a state bordering on ennui. She spits out the stem she had been chewing on and says, "Percy, right? What do you ken you'll take away from all this, if things happen to go your a'way?"

Moto went out to the pen and looked over the horses. He picked a black, medium sized mustang . The horse was fairly docile and took a liking to him. “I will call you, Nightshade.” As he saddled up, Moto looked to Pipre and Percy. “Henry will only be away for two day and already there is debate. I think Henry's orders where clear. I say we ride on and let them continue their power-hungry debate behind? If need be, We will wait for them at Nivakta’s Crossing or Fort Serenko. I have gold if we need to check into an inn.”

OOC: If at least Pipre and Percy are agreeable to this, we(and whoever else) ride on.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:41, Sun 13 Mar 2016.

"Oh."  The question seems to surprise him.

"The family business hasn't been doing so well, and I had an urge to travel," that was one way of putting it, "so this offer presented an opportunity to both make some coin and get away from it all.  Rather exciting, eh ?  Striking out into the wilds ... living on our wits and so forth."

"Yourself ?"  This time there is more than simple politeness in Percy's voice - he seems genuinely interested.

Pipre snorted once in amusement, "Yeah, that could describe my situation pretty well, also, if not a bit obliquely." She looks over to Moto before turning in her saddle, "Let's get moving!" she yells back at the general direction of the stables and inn, her low and smoky voice turning shrill.

Henry waits for a moment, until he has swallowed a bite from a flatbread befpre responding.

”For the time being, at least, it absolves us from any crime should one of us kill a bandit.”  Henry says in response to Rook’s outburst, although with a smile of thanks and a nod of acknowledgement to Vik.  ”However, I suspect the chances of running into bandits is quite high. The area south of the border is reputed to be thick with them.  And, to be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if bandit control is something that is in the Swordlords’ minds, considering the other charters they have offered out.  However, we are not specifically tasked with hunting and tracking down bandits.” He explains carefully however when he continues, addressing Rook’s second point, his tone is a bit more forceful.  ”You are right, I haven’t considered leadership for this phase.  For two reasons.  First, up until yesterday evening I was expecting to travel with you and this morning I assumed that as a group of adults you would be able to get along reasonably well together and reach sensible decisions on the short journey to Oleg's Trading Post.”

He takes another small mouthful of the bread and chews for a moment as the other speak.

”Views, comments and questions are all reasonable -  so long as they are done while we are at base.  Any concerns while you are in the field need to wait, and if any dissent in the field endangers the lives of any of ‘our’ people I will be most displeased.”  He continues, again starting softly and his voice becoming harder as he completes his comment.

”In the interim, seeing as you feel you need leadership, Borric d’Cordain will have the final word in any decision making.” and with this he turns to address the paladin directly, ”Although I expect you to discuss the matter with your colleagues and try to reach a consensus before you impose any decision.”

”Any other questions or thoughts?” He asks the group, just as Pipre’s voice comes from outside, urging the others to get a move on.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Sun 13 Mar 2016.

Percy chuckles at Moto's synopsis. "It's the same at any Family gathering," he concurs.  "Everyone has to know their place at the table."

"Still ... I think perhaps we'd best wait for our companions. For one thing, I'm sure the courtesy will be appreciated, but more importantly, if the stories are to be believed, then we'll certainly appreciate the company.  Safety in numbers and all that."

Pipre's blunt approach elicits another smile and a nod of approval.  While the three sit a-horse, awaiting a response, he adds, "I find that glossing over any tedious facts often smooths the path of conversation."

"Well it seems that some of us are more anxious to be on the road than others." Borric smiled when he heard Pipre’s voice. He gave a nod to Henry, "We'll see you in two days time. Master Henry. Safe travels."

---

Once the group was on the road, "We should have scouts ahead." Borric raised himself from the seat of the saddle and looked around, "Do we have a volunteer or two that would like to ride ahead?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Sun 13 Mar 2016.

Rook listened intently, one arm on the table and his full attention on Henry. He nodded along with one of the points made, having not thought about the sudden change in Henry's plans. When he was finished, he stood and offered a hand to his employer. "I agree with you on concerns in the field. I appreciate you taking the time to explain everything to me. Take care of yourself on your way out there, we'll hopefully be waiting for you." Grabbing a final piece of the bread, he gathered his things together and joined the others where he picked one of the remaining mounts and saddled up for travel.

Moto waited on his horse as the others inside moved slowly. A smile came to his face as Pipre yelled out to them. He then listened to Percy's words and gave a friendly nod. “If this is like a Family gathering, dinner is getting cold. I just hope the three of us are not having our chairs taken away.”


As they rode on, Moto nodded at Borric's suggestion. “A fine idea, Borric. Perhaps you should take that honor with one other. Feel free to report back at the first sign of trouble.”
This message was last edited by the player at 05:24, Mon 14 Mar 2016.

You spend a day riding to Nivakta’s Crossing, where you find another Inn, much like The Drover, intended to serve trade caravans.  There is another bunk room, a warming stew for dinner and a hearty helping of cereal for breakfast, as well as flat breads and some of last season’s apples to serve as a pack lunch.

The next day takes you to the very limits of Restov’s influence - Fort Serenko.  The roadside fort is home to a small detachment of troops, tasked with providing basic protection for travellers.  The facilities here are basic, a safe place to pitch your tents and a hot griddle bread (made as you wait) to supplement the food that you have with you.  But it is a safe place to sleep, with   some company and no need to set a night watch.  The guard are happy to chat about life on the edges of civilisation - although there are a couple amongst you who think they have it fairly easy here.  Most importantly, perhaps, they are happy to report that there hasn’t been all that much bandit activity recently, well at least not in their patrol areas.

Then it is into the wilds proper.  It is easy to see that the road isn’t used as much now, and there are fewer side roads leading off to distant small holdings and farms.  However, as evening starts to fall, you come to a place that is clearly used as a camp site.  There is a circle cleared of undergrowth, a well-marked fire pit and even a small stream with bushes growing on the banks to act as a source of wood and water.

---

Let me know if you are taking any actions during the journey from Fort Serenko

Once the stream is spotted Pipre is sliding from her Ragweed, the old gelding horse, and moving over to Thistle, leading both of them over to it to drink. From Thistle's pack she removes a rolled leather kit and a mug of warm ale drawn from the barrel on its saddle. She sets the kit and the mug within arm's reach on the shore and starts peeling dirty garments from her dirty body, using the bushes to keep some of her modesty as she prepares for a bath, grooming session, and a washing of her clothes and leather armor. By now most of the bruising had healed, which made apparent more of her beauty that tried to make itself known despite her heavy-drinking lifestyle and shabby dress.
__________________________________

During the trip she was keen eyed, not perhaps so much for bandits but definitely for various roots and herbs that she would stay behind collecting and then catch up once she had stored them.

Knowledge Nature:
10:21, Today: Pipre rolled 20 using 1d20+8 ((12)).

As the group came into the clearing Adoven started setting up camp immediately. He tied Clementine, the name he gave his horse, to a tree and began to strike up a fire.

"Well...guess this will be home for the night. Anyone care to help get some firewood?"

There wasn't much need for anyone to scout for the group in the first two days of travel. Borric smiled when Moto offered the honor of taking that position. He admitted, "My eyes are not the sharpest. It would be foolish of me to volunteer for that position."

---

The third day gave Borric time to get adjusted to traveling on horseback. It was obvious that he was no expert horseman, he was always quick to dismount whenever the group stopped for a rest. He thanked Iomedae that his horse wasn't spirited, in fact, his horse had seen better days.

The campsite was a welcome sight. The group had settled on a routine in the past two days. Borric was quick to dismount and stretch his legs by walking. He didn't complain of any discomfort, but it was obvious that he had much to learn about horsemanship.

"Another day, another campsite." Borric mused as he set out to pitch one of the tents. "Henry said that we should make it to the trading post on the fourth day."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Mon 14 Mar 2016.

The sun is getting close to the horizon and the spring breezes are starting to feel chilly as the evening draws on.

Bai had spent the few days travel mostly writing in her journal as she rode, mapping the area, sketching what she saw, and generally watching the birds as they flew. She took to travelling not unlike a child would, enchanted by the novelty of it. She stayed near Pipre and Rook, sensing they knew more about the mounts than most and simply chatting up others, doing what she could to keep conversation flowing.

She'd grown an affinity for the beast that she spent her time on too. She alternated between riding on it and taking times where she would jog along the creature, partly to stretch her legs, and partly because she had trouble keeping her gear secured, bits constantly falling out of her pack.

As the night drew close on the third day she looked upon the horizon, trying to see if there was anything of note to document.

Bai Kao rolled 34 using 1d20+15.  Nature.

After setting out, whatever apparent worries the young human had about the travel seemed to dissipate with every step his mount took from the city. He didn't conversate all too much, not one for the small talk, but he did participate when the subject interested him.

It's clear that while he knows how to ride, he's not very comfortable with it. Despite that, he is kind to all of the animals. At the end of the day Rook takes the time to scavenge or barter for a treat for each of the mounts carrying the group to their destination. He outright gives his own apples to his horse at lunch after leaving Nivakta's Crossing.

Once they depart from Fort Serenko, Rook wears his armored jacket, holy vestments, and symbol properly. Of course, the vestments are a worn buckskin cloak with the symbol of Erastil burned into the hide. And the holy symbol is wooden and roughly carved by inexperienced hands.

As soon as they stop Rook cares for the horse and stows his pack near the fire, removing his jacket and draping it across the bag. Stretching his arms, he holds both hands to the sky with a quiet groan. "I'll help you, Adoven. Fire'll go nicely with the creek."

In reply to Adoven (msg # 38):

Vik's time at Fort Serenko was a lively one, drinking and dicing with the soldiers, playing the lying game most of all. She ate so much hot bread she was a bit sluggish the next morning, but she had more made up and packed it in her pack, eating it the next day instead of her rations.

The stomach ache had only begun to abate by the time they'd reached camp

"I'll set about with the camp then. Don't wander too far you two."

OOC: take 10 on Survival, result 11

Vik took a fistful of grains and fed them to her mount. A suitable name had escaped her, but whispering to it seemed to keep it happy.

As they rode throughout the past few days, Moto watched his new companions and the skills they displayed. Moto was no woodsman and not really a horseman either. So he watched Pipre as she seemed to have some idea of animal husbandry and of the natural world.

By the time they got to the campsite, Moto was sore from three days of riding. He tied Nightshade by the other horses. It was going to take a little time to get use to...all this riding for continuous days. He helped Vik get the camp set up. He was saddle sore and exhausted, but he had to do one more thing before going off to a tent to dream, he had to cook his dinner.

Tonight was the first night he had to eat trail rations, salt-pork and a very hard, unsavory cracker-like biscuit. Once the campfire was up, Moto would cook his salt-pork. “I can take first watch, but please note I need a full nights rest, at least eight hours. Should we have two people per watch shift?” 
This message was last edited by the player at 07:45, Tue 15 Mar 2016.

While neither horseman or huntsman, Percy has been on the trail often enough that he knows his way around a campsite, though the reality of having to fend for yourself instead of having people to do for you does require a turning of the mental page.

The days in the saddle are for him, like many of his companions, less than comfortable, for all he's done it before, and most of his time is spent shifting in the saddle, trying to relieve the ache in his boney behind.  Similarly, his own steed is either 'girl' or 'good horse'.

While others are seeing to a fire or pitching tents, Percy elects to care for not only his own mount but also the horses of those who are otherwise gainfully occupied, though like Bai he watches Pipre tending to Ragweed and copies her actions.

"I'll watch with you," he tells Moto.  "Need to walk around a bit, anyway else I'll stiffen up."

"I'll take first watch with Moto." Adoven wandered around the outskirts of the campsite. Even though he is not much of a nature guy, he decided to search for any berries or fruit that might be edible. If he finds some, he will ask one of the more nature-y types to check it out before eating.

OOC: Yea I didn't find anything. 10:12, Today: Adoven rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Survival.

It doesn’t take long to look after the animals, collect firewood and put a simple campsite together.  Pipre spotted some clumps of kale and sorrel on the journey and they are boiled together, in a bit of water  from the stream, to make a sort of warm cabbage soup to supplement your dry rations.

And then, just as darkness falls, Bai takes a moment to contemplate the horizon.    She sees a small skein of four or five geese flying north, while another larger flock of birds, or perhaps bats, flit in the halflight, as the last of the sun’s rays turn the horizon blood red.  Just then, a crow, perhaps disturbed by Pipre’s bathing lets out a loud squawk, and flies out of the stream side bushes.

SQUAAAAARRRRK

Gradually you settle down to rest and drop off to sleep as Moto and Percy take the first watch.  However, just as they are thinking about waking up the next watch pair when there is a scream from one of the horses.

Almost at the same time, Percy and Moto feel something land on them, amid a fluttering of short leathery wings, and cling onto their clothing and armour.  Both feel a sharp pain as a large needle, or something similar, pushes into their flesh.

------------
OOC:

Everyone else make a perception check to wake up -  5 or more you can wake up, 4 or less, and you turn over and grumble. (But you can make  new checks next round).

Unless you have the appropriate feats / traits that make sleeping in armour comfortable -  I will assume that you have all taken your armour off to sleep :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:55, Wed 16 Mar 2016.

Waking up with a shock, Bai instinctively grabs at her shield and morningstar as she pushed herself to her feet. As she did she shouted, "What's going on?"

Bai Kao rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  Perception.

Borric was normally a deep sleeper. But for whatever reason tonight, be it a branch snap or it was the scream, he woke with a start. "What was that?" He drew his blade from its sheath and picked up his shield. There wasn't time to put on his armor. He hunched as he edged near the fire pit. "Who's on watch?"


Borric d'Cordain rolled 17 using 1d20-1.  Perception check DC5 to wake
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Wed 16 Mar 2016.

People were moving around, but Vik rolled over and grumbled, trying to get back to sleep. She pulled her blanket to cover her better as she turned

Her sword belt lay next to her bedroll, ready but currently unused.

OOC: Perception check 2

After washing his feet in the cool creek and praying to Erastil for sustenance, Rook hunkered down on top of his blanket to rest. He slept with his holy symbol on his chest, held for comfort in one hand. The quickness with which he woke made it appear as though he expected something bad to happen. He sprang up, his holy symbol erupting to light as he held it up above his head. "The horses!"

11:33, Today: Rook Sanderson rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

The light from Rook's holy symbol shows that Moto and Percy have lept to their feet and  small black creatures are clinging to their shoulder/head/chest area.  The horses are neighing and snorting loudly and are pulling restlessly at their ropes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:31, Wed 16 Mar 2016.

Adoven was awoke sharply. He leaped to his feet grabbing both of his swords. He glanced around to see what the issue was. He considered donning his leather, but thought it would be better to quickly help the two being attacked.

OOC: 10:53, Today: Adoven rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Perception to wake up. I cannot fail because I'm awesome.

If I can I want to advance towards them!

Pipre jolts awake, her mind not quite catching up as she sits up and blurts, "I'm not asleep!" A moment later she snaps to, the light from Rook helping her quickly take stock of the situation. She reaches over with one hand and pulls back her bedroll with the other, standing and pulling on her belt around the long nightshirt that is now the only other clothing she wears, draping off of slender shoulders and hems gathering in loose folds around her hands and the tops of her thighs.

She looks up, identifying if there are any more in the sky and knowing that if she doesn't act quick she won't get the most out of her talents.

If there are more shapes overhead:
She tucks a catalyst vial in her teeth, plump lips peeled back as she produces a second, larger packed sphere of chemicals. She pushes the small catalyst vial against the sphere and then slams it home with her palm, the hiss of chemical reaction starting immediately. She tosses it up, the reaction causing a cacophony as fire erupts with dark smoke and streamers of embers.

Perception 12, Ranged Touch attack 12, hopefully I caught them unexpecting such an attack otherwise the explosion is sure to wake everyone

Edit: Actually, I checked the splash weapon rules again, sorry. I'll target a grid intersection that will hit the most possible with splash damage. Splash damage is 6 fire damage; reflex save DC 14 for half.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Wed 16 Mar 2016.

Pipre hurls a bomb into the sky and it explodes, somewhere above everyone's heads, illuminating more of the creatures in its sullen orange glare. The things are about a foot long, with long thin legs, bat-like wings and a long nose or beak. The noise and flash causes the to turn away from the explosion and fly out of the glare into the darkness, although one crashes to the ground almost at Pipre's feet, and lays there twitching silently.

For a moment, at least, the air above the camp is free of the beasts.

Adoven manages a couple of paces towards Percy and Moto - he should be able to close with them next round.

------------

OOC

Pipre: I haven't given you a grid to fight on, so I took (what I hope) was the spirit of the action.

Moto was looking forward to sleep and was glad his shift was about over, but then something horrid landed upon him and stung. Shock, fear and intense anger ran through his mind. It was then the demon-blood took over, his eyes glowed red and claws that looked like obsidian sprang from his fingers. Moto then began to try and rip the creature off him, tearing at it with his claws. "AAAAAHHHHHH!"

OOC: Full attack with claws. Claw attacks round 1/5.
15:35, Today: Moto Trema rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Attack Claws(1). Miss
15:35, Today: Moto Trema rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Attack Claws(2). Maybe
15:37, Today: Moto Trema rolled 8 using 1d4+4.  Damage claw(2) . Maybe
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Wed 16 Mar 2016.

If anything, Percy had stiffened up more during his turn on watch, but even so, his blanket seemed most inviting.  Turning towards Moto to make just such a comment, all thought of sleep and indeed even his aches and pains are forgotten in an instant as something lands upon him.

Percy screams obligingly as he feels the teeth of the hell-beast bite into his flesh.  He staggers around, somehow missing the campfire as he tries to grasp the creature and push it away from him or something, anything.

And then the sky explodes in a flash of light and Moto turns into a demon.

Percy screams once more, backing away from his companion ...

Rikka just turns over and cuddles her blanket closer to her.

NPCed
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:20, Thu 17 Mar 2016.

In Erastil’s Holy Light, all hell appears to have been let loose.   Moto has turned into some sort demonic monster with glowing red eyes and long black claws - which he has used to impale one of the huge bug-like bat-things.  Bai, as she stands, is surrounded by her own ghostly aura -  the breeze swirls around her, carrying leaves and small clumps of dirt  in a mini-whirlwind that surrounds her body – all accompanied by a soft moaning that could perhaps come from whatever is buried under this wind disturbed ground.  Suddenly the sullen yellow flash rips the air in a burst of thunder. Percy staggers backwards, away from the transformed Moto, clutching another of the demonic bugs that he has ripped from his own throat.

And another of the horses lets forth with a screaming neigh …

---

Next Round

You are all within 30ft of Percy, Moto and the horses.

With that much noise - anyone still asleep can wake up automatically
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:27, Thu 17 Mar 2016.

"I'll try to keep any more from coming down, take care of Percy and the Horses!" Pipre calls out, her voice seeming to go shrill whenever she yells which might be a good thing because it is fairly easy to understand. She has the two components to a bomb in her hand, ready to combine them and throw the explosive parcel should more of the creatures descend.

It was all a little bit ridiculous, what was going on. People screaming, confusion, the unexpected appearance of transformative powers. And she was adding to it, in her own way, a young girl standing in a thin night shirt chucking bombs into the air. It might even be enough for her to shake off the ennui she's been gripped by of late, at least for a little while.

---

Prepare an attack, hit touch ac 20 which deals 11 fire damage; no save directly and the 5ft splash deals 6 fire damage; dex save 14 for half damage

"We'd have an easier time calming them down if you'd stop with the blasted explosions!" Rook called out over the cacophony of screams and bomb echoes. Still in bare feet, with the light held high, he rushed over to the horses in hopes his presence would calm them or the light he held would chase away the large insects.

Bai knelt down and started digging through her pack, rummaging as the winds whip around her. She shoots a glance over her shoulder towards the creature. "What are those things?"

Vik, hearing the screaming outside, grabbed her shortswords and dashed outside, ready for trouble.

"What is happening, do we know who is attacking!?"

Adoven stopped for a brief second when he saw what Moto had become, then threw away the notion of retreat. "Um..Moto...are you okay," Adoven said with slight concern. As he moved closer he searched for more of the bat-things.


OOC: If there are more I'll make an attack roll

"We need to make sure the horses are unhurt." Borric made his way to the nearest horse. He tried to calm the animal as best as he could, "Need a hand here."


Borric d'Cordain rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Handle animal

Moto impaled the disgusting insect, toss it to the ground. As he was no longer in serious danger, the demon blood rolled back and the red eyes faded, the claws retracting back into his fingers. It was then he heard Adoven's question. “What..yes, I'm fine. Magic you see....it was magic.”

Seeing that Pipre was looking to throw another bomb, Moto waited for her to do so. Once the bomb lights the sky for a few quick seconds, he would throw a sleep spell above to get any remaining beasts. He made sure not to hit any comrades in the process. As Moto spoke the words to his spell his voice echoed in a deep, inhuman tone. “Nuku nyt!”

OOC: Preparing to throw a sleep spell. DC 13 Will save negates. They might take fall damage and awake up. Therefore, Moto will target the ones flying high. :)

Range: medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)

Area: one or more living creatures within a 10-ft.-radius burst

A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 HD of creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first. Among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell's point of origin are affected first. HD that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted. Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action). Sleep does not target unconscious creatures, constructs, or undead creatures.

Just as a reminder -  you are all in the circle of Rook's light Spell.  The bomb doesn't really illuminate much more than that.  However, the creatures seem to be staying out of the light.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:10, Fri 18 Mar 2016.

Percy's scream threatens to rouse even the dead from their slumbers as he struggles to keep the demon-bug at arms length, his hands wrapped about its disgusting form as it flaps and writhes and tries to get free.

"What is it ?!!  What is it ?!!" the scream finally gives way to a frantic question, followed by an emphatic plea.

"Kill it !  Kill it, someone !"

Pipre and Moto scan the sky above looking for more of the creatures to chase off with their spells, but the bat-bugs are avoiding the light and there is nothing to target.

Rook charges over towards the horses, taking his Holy Light with him as Bai struggles to find a sunrod in her pack, apparently hampered by the breezes and leaves that still seem to swirl around her.

As Rook and Borric approach the horses, a number of the bat-bugs release their grip on the frightened animals and fly off into the darkness, although the animals don’t seem to calm down much, even with Borric’s calming efforts.

Vik and Adoven move towards Moto and Percy, as Percy waves the squirming bug-bat at them and implores them to kill it.   However, it twists in his grip and its long sharp proboscis digs into his wrist.

Rikka, last to wake, stumbles out of the tent wondering what the hell is going on.

---------

You are still all within 30 feet of the horses, Moto and Percy and you can't see any more of the bat-bugs circling.  At the moment the biggest threat appears to come from the thing in Percy’s hands and the frightened horses.

Adoven swings hard with both short swords. "Don't worry Percy, we'll get that thing off ya!"


OOC:
10:06, Today: Adoven rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Hit the thing on Percy, hopefully without hitting Percy...(mainhand).
10:06, Today: Adoven rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Hit the thing on Percy, hopefully without hitting Percy...(offhand).
10:07, Today: Adoven rolled 5 using 1d6.  Damage (Mainhand if successful).
10:07, Today: Adoven rolled 4 using 1d6.  Damage (Offhand if succesful).

TWF and weapon finesse give's me only a +1 to attack. If I have to move to get close enough, just the mainhand obviously!

Vik moved beside Adoven, stabbing with her own shortsword and then raking the other one at the creature on Percy in a reverse grip

OOC: main attack 16, damage 7, offhand attack 9, damage 6, same notes as Adoven on mainhand use if move action required

"Can't have our first real combat be a failure can we?"

She smiled at Adoven, a not entirely appropriate action considering they were in the midst of combat
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Fri 18 Mar 2016.

"They're avoiding the light, stay close!" Bai shouts as she activates her sunrod, the rod lifting into the air as a spectral hand forms around it, raising until it's ten feet above the woman, creating a 30 foot radius of light.

OOC kicking off the light and mage handing it so it's hanging above me, casting a bubble of normal light.

As the bat-bugs avoided the light and stayed clear for the moment, Moto began to calm. Hearing his horse screaming neigh, Moto carefully moves over to tend to the animal. Putting a hand on Nightshade and petting the mustang, Moto tried to calm the horse down. As he tried to calm the horse, Moto knew he needed training.

OOC: Charisma check to handle a domestic animal...
15:13, Today: Moto Trema rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Charisma check to handle a domestic animals.

Next round Moto will take 10, if possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Fri 18 Mar 2016.

Borric held the guide-rope of several horses, "Bring light! Torches or a lantern. We can't let these things get the horses." He tried again to sooth the horses nerves.


Untrained check
Borric d'Cordain rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Handle animals
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Sat 19 Mar 2016.

Percy's cries fade to a grunt of pain, his initial fear at something biting him giving way to anger as he struggles to hold the nasty thing.

"Careful !" he cautions Andoven and Vic, closing his eyes and screwing up his face as a veritable wall of blades scythes down towards his tender fingers.  "I'm rather attached to those bits !" the jest falls rather flat.

With both Moto and Borric trying to calm the spooked horses, Rook took a step back and looked around at the others. His eyes stopped on the dead creature at Pipre's feet, now illuminated by Bai's floating sunrod. Brows knitting together, he studied it closely add tried his best to identify it.

13:32, Today: Rook Sanderson rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Know: Nature - Identify.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Sat 19 Mar 2016.

Adoven and  Vik deal with the bug-bat that Percy is holding out, skewering it and practically ripping apart with their matched short-sword blows, allowing Percy to dash the thing to the ground and start jumping up and down on it.

Moto rushes over towards the horses intending to calm them but he only seems scares them more than they already were.  However, Borric has their lead ropes in hand and is talking to them, so they don’t bolt.

Rook studies the dead thing at Pipre’s feet by the light of Bai’s floating sunrod – and can’t work out what it is.  However, it like a cross cross between a huge mosquito and a nasty looking bat.  “It is called a Stirge.” Pipre offers calling on her knowledge of the Arcane “A bloodsucker.” And Bai nods solemnly in agreement.

However, the excitement is over for the time being – the light, noise and shouting seem to have driven the remaining Stirges away and you have time to take stock of the situation. Four of the horses have clearly lost blood to the Stirges, as large puncture marks still ooze blood slightly -  but both Percy and Moto appear to have got away relatively unscathed.

----
OOC:   Ride or Handle Animal were appropriate skills to calm the horse.  Handle Animal is a Trained Only skill.  Anyone with Knowledge:Arcana can roll to find out a bit more about stirges.

Percy takes a step back from the corpse and draws his rapier, the point quivering as he leans over to examine the ... "Bloodsucker you say ?" he asks almost casually of Pipre, feeling for his neck with his spare hand as his eyes stray with concern towards the puncture hole in his wrist.

Than a grunt of disgust as he realises his boots are spattered with the thing's entrails and, wounds forgotten, he quickly straightens and steps further away, trying to wipe the soles on the grass.

"Not a particularly auspicious start to my life as a renowned explorer of the deepest wilderness," he attempts to lighten the mood as he scrapes his foot back and forth, but then his brow darkens and the tip of his rapier rises, swishing through the air as he looks about with some urgency.

"Where's Moto ?" Percy demands. "Some ... something happened to him when the bloodsucker bit him ... he seemed to turn into a ... I don't know what !"

Moto quickly realized that he was no good at dealing with horses. Instead, he helped Borric who seemed to have more of a handle on them and followed his lead. All the while Moto thought about the Stirge, as Pipre calls it. What a fool creature...

Then he heard Percy ask about him, Moto spoke up hoping to get past the subject quickly. In truth, he did not really know what to think himself. “I'm over here by the horses Percy. As I told Adoven, it was just magic...just the magic of my blood.” His yellow, catlike eyes looked at Percy for just a moment. Moto then went back on to helping Borric.

OOC: 22:08, Today: Moto Trema rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Knowledge: Arcana.
Assisting Borric. Please make any other rolls needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Sun 20 Mar 2016.

Pipre continues, "They can be deadly, for sure, if you are alone and get swarmed quickly. As you saw, however, they are quick to give up and look for easier meals and they don't like light." She puts her catalyst vial back into the loop meant for it and does the same with the chemical bomb shell that she would have activated with the vial. She rubs her eye, yawning as she walks over to Thistle and Ragweed, checking them over to make sure there weren't any stray stirges hiding out. When that task was over she poured herself a warm mug of ale from the large barrel among her gear and walks back to her bedroll, sitting down cross legged on the still-warm fur blankets over top it.

"Maybe light a couple more fires," she says, drinking down half the mug, "keep them further at bay." She yawns again, bigger this time, and then finishes off the bit she had poured herself before slumping over into the furs, cuddling close her stuffed owlbear doll, and promptly falling back to sleep.

Adoven grinned at Vic, "Seems we didn't fail our first combat. Want to help me light a few more fires as Pipre suggested?"

Adoven took some time to gather firewood and began lighting fires around the campsite. He was keeping them close enough so the light would extend to the next one and the center where everyone was sleeping was covered. "I don't mind missing some sleep to get these fires going, or help with the horses. But any of you magic types need your rest from what I hear. So maybe let me and whoever else wants to help get this stuff taken care of and you guys get some rest."

He turned his attention back to the horses, concern carving lines in his forehead. The symbol still glowing, he held it above his head as he walked among their mounts and inspected the injuries. His lips began to move and a silent hum vibrated the air briefly. With it came a barely visible distortion, like the heat waves of a summer field, that originated with Rook and rippled through the horses, closing their wounds.

17:57, Today: Rook Sanderson rolled 4 using 1d6.  Channel Energy.

In reply to Adoven (msg # 83):

"I think that's a good idea Adoven."

Vik helped with the lighting of the ring of fires, fetching her flint and steel. Once that was done, she fetched her armoured coat and kilt and took watch with Adoven.

"I can light them." Rikka responds before Vik sets off to get her flint and steel. Then, by way of demonstration, she clicks her fingers together and causes a shower of magical sparks to cascade from her hand.

She might have slept through the fight, but she can help in the aftermath.

NPCed
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:41, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

Percy starts back warily to begin with as Moto approaches, but lowers his blade more out of politeness than common sense as his companion of the watch tries to explain what happened to him.

"An unfortunate affliction," the young gentleman notes, a slight edge of concern to his habitual drawl, though he does sheathe his sword as he speaks, sensing Moto's awkwardness.  "Must be very inconvenient."

"Not sure I could sleep just yet," he nods to Adoven, shaking his head jealously as he eyes Pipre already back in the land of Nod.  So saying Percy sees to the cleaning of his wounds then sets to building fires with Vik, sitting with the two for the short time it takes tiredness to creep back upon him, whence he takes to his blankets, wrapping himself about in his cloak with the hood up for what protection it might afford if the demon-bugs return.

Crouching down near one of the dead beasts, Bai grabs the bits of it's body and starts to dismember it. Pulling its innards out and spreading them out on the ground near it, Bai quietly inspects it, taking a few notes as she does. Ten or so minutes later she finishes and wipes her hands on her pant legs. "Well, this is certainly very interesting."

Bai Kao rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Arcana.

As Adoven and Rook walked up and Adoven suggested sleep for the users of the art, Moto nodded. As Percy made his comments, Moto looked at him briefly. He then walked passed him without saying a word. Was it an unfortunate affliction? Moto did not know, nor could he really say. He is...what he is....the great grandchild of a prince and a female demon in human form. A royal abomination of a once great bloodline. Is this why he didn't disappear with the house of Rogarvia? Did demon blood corrupt, change and defile it so much that it's no longer distinguishable as Rogarvia? Moto shook his head. It was late.

Exhausted, Moto took his bedroll and went into one of the tents to sleep. To dream of the dark, starry wonders of the art. Still he hoped for better dreams...
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Tue 22 Mar 2016.

Borric, Moto and Pipre help to calm the animala, whil Rook walks among them, healing and calming them,  as only he can, while Andoven, Vik and Rikka work on collecting more wood and lighting extra fires. As they do so, Bai holds the corpse of the stirge up and pulls the entrails from it, studying  carefully them as she does so.  Half an hour after the start of the attack, everything is calmed down again – although better lit than it was before.

The rest of the night passes quietly with the extra light and flames keeping the stirges away or, perhaps, they were satisified with their meal.  Just as importantly, the extra light didn’t attract the attention of bandits or any of the Humanoids that can be found in this area.

There are oat flakes in the supplies that Henry sent with you, and you could make porridge or oatcakes for breakfast,  otherwise, it will be a handful of fruit and nuts from the dried food sack.

OOC Craft Cook – SR5 for a basic porrige.  SR10 for oatcakes.

Bai woke quickly, her nerves still a bit on edge from the night's activities. Making her way towards the campfire she watched other people making their morning meals. The novelty of it interested her so she tried her hand at making some oatcakes. It didn't go well...

With the catastrophe that was her burnt breakfast behind her she took her time to pack, double and triple checking the straps on her bag as she did. Finally happy with it she milled around the campsite, listening in to the conversations of others, finally settling next to Percy. "How are you feeling?"

Bai Kao rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Cooking (untrained).

Adoven awoke and stretched. "Seems we scared the bugs off for the night. Any fires still stoked?" He found a fire that was still going strong and grabbed the oatflakes and cooking utensils. When he was finished preparing the food he called out to the others, "Oatcakes are on! Who's hungry?"

OOC:
10:42, Today: Adoven rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Cooking (untrained)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Tue 22 Mar 2016.

Vik set to work making the porridge, whistling while she stirred the concoction.

"Long road ahead, let's make sure to fill up this morning, cover ground. We've got an even longer night ahead after, if these insects keep attacking."

OOC: rolled a 6 on cooking

Pipre inch-wormed her way over to her pack and the fire it is near, the whole of her fur lined bedroll rising and stretching in the slowest, laziest form of ambulation ever. When she reached that spot she spread out tools, but not for cooking. A wooden frame holding compact, travel calcinators, alembics, mortars with pestle, retort, etc. As the task of replenishing her supplies became more complicated more of her emerged from the bedroll, first her head, then shoulders with night shirt draping from them, her torso, and finally she was sitting upright, legs crossed atop her piled up sleeping roll. She was crushing powder, diluting, dissolving, concentrating, and causing quite an acrid smell as a result.

By the time she was done, her belt fully stocked, she was wide awake. At some point she had paused just long enough to go get a mug of liquid breakfast and was now stretching her legs, strolling around the fire barefoot. While everyone was cooking and eating she decided that since she had to change into her usual clothes anyways, she may as well washing the chemical stink off of her with the nearby stream and changing into her usual, newly cleaned and mostly dry, shorts, leather cuirass, short coat, and foot wraps. She comes back to the group to pack up her things and finish a second mug of ale, taking the edge off. "Ready to go, Ragweed?" She asks, ruffling the old gelding's mane.

Rikka is more than happy to take one of Adoven's hot oat cakes and holds her bowl out towards Vik for some of the porridge. "Thanks.  I am not much good at that cooking lark.  I know how to grow the stuff," she says nodding towards the oats, "but after that, I am lost." she grins.

Once breakfast is over, Rikka helps pack up camp and load the horses ready for the day's travels.

NPCed

Moto woke up slowly, feeling refreshed from the night before. He took a few moments sitting up to align himself with the magic that dwelt within his blood. Getting out of the tent and going to see what was available for breakfast. Moto had a few hand fulls of fruit and nuts, looking at the others and the horses. Moto spoke plainly to the group around the fire. “We should keep an eye on the horses for the next few days. Stirges are often carriers of diseases and it is possible that some of the horses have been infected. I believe...I hope that since the Stirges did not get a chance to feed off Percy and myself, that we are not infected. Dying of disease is not a good way to go....It's not how I want to go. That said, we should be watched closely as well. Friends, you have my thanks.” Moto, with a concerned look gave a head nod to Percy and a fleeting glance at Bai before turning to check on Nightshade and pack up his gear.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:28, Wed 23 Mar 2016.

Percy is perhaps more horrified by Bai's casual dismemberment of the Stirge's corpse than by what went before, and his own sleep is fitful and punctuated by bad dreams.

The worst of it, though is the ungodly hour at which the camp rises and he finds himself participating in the grim ritual of early morning.  And things go downhill after Bai's helpful advise.  "Oh. I am feeling a bit under the weather now that you mention it ..."

Even Andoven's oatcakes do not go far to cheer poor Percy, and he can only manage a few of them, munching sadly as he wanders over to the living mound that is Pipre's wordly goods.  "I ... I don't suppose you know anything about poisons ?" he asks her tentatively.

By the time Moto has had his say, Percy is definitely looking a little green, but gamely drags himself and his gear a-horse, though he is constantly distracted by the need to inspect his wound (at least the one on his wrist that he can see) for signs of infection or contagion.

Pipre was sat sideways on Ragweed's old, soft leather saddle, the thick layers of cloth under it ratty and worn. Her hands were tucked idly between her thighs, the skin of her legs smooth and shiny thanks to the time spent at the stream with her grooming kit, which included a straight razor and shaving powder. She sets aside her.. second? third? mug of liquid bread and hops down lightly onto bare feet. "Never know unless you try, I suppose," she says quietly in her low, smoky timbre.

She looks over the wound, turning it this way and that. She also has Percy raise his chin and pushes her thumbs carefully against the fleshy, soft top part of his throat, looking for the lymph nodes. She had seen some effects of poison and knew that area got swollen often with natural venom. Pipre also curled up Percy's top lip to check under it but that was because she had a childish inkling that such a bushy mustache would grow through the back. After her inspection she....

I rolled a 3 heal but a 26 knowledge nature, I figured it was a natural creature and knowledge nature does include vermin.

A gentle breeze ruffles through the leaves of the bushes by down by the stream.

Pipre narrows her eyes, suddenly deciding not to ever tell anyone she was looking for mustache roots under Percy's upper lip. She studies it for just a moment longer. "Any sensation coming from your mouth or throat?" She asks while moving to her equipment, finding a bit of the alchemical alcohol that is part of her supplies. She tries to surreptitiously wash her hands with the potent chemical. "There's uh, there's some brown spots. We might need to address this as a larger concern than what we are now."

She produces some shabby leather gloves, puts them on, and then goes to stick her hands in Bai's mouth. "Open up, Bai, I need to check something." She'll also repeat the inspection on the horses.

Bai offers some water for Pipre to clean her gloves with, "No offense, I don't know where those gloves have been and while normally that wouldn't bother me, it does before they go in my mouth..."

And assuming Pipre washed her gloves well, the woman opened her mouth for whatever inspection was coming.

She washes the gloves carefully, mostly for Bai's ease of mind. She has a habit of keeping at least the tools and protection she uses for her alchemy clean and usable. She lifts the other woman's upper lip, inspecting the smooth flesh inside. As a side note, Bai and Pipre look to be about the same height, Bai being one inch taller if anything, so it's pretty simple to look into her mouth. "Say, you're pretty huh?" She remarks in her dark, liquidy voice during her inspection.

When Pipre finishes her inspection of her mouth, Bai steps back, the awkwardness of the complement clearly making her slightly uneasy. "Well.. umm.. thank you, I suppose. So did your inspection bring anything to light?"

One of the horses whinnies, eager to be off for the day.

Vik took the opportunity to sharpen her shortswords and oil the leather on her armoured coat.

Pipre grins, "Sorry, I don't know what to say when checking inside people's mouths, either." She took off the gloves after finishing the full inspection and tucked them back into their spot on Thistle's pack saddle. "False alarm. Until symptoms actualize I think perhaps your bodies are just fighting off any traces of bad humours the stirge may have introduced. Drink a lot, clean your wound, Percy, and both of you your clothes, and try to work up a sweat as often as you can."

She swings back up onto the saddle, patting Ragweed's neck and looping Thistle's lead rope to the saddle."We should be ready to go, just keep us abreast of how well or poorly you feel."

On the road, Pipre once again keeps her eyes open- particularly for herbs or roots with helpful properties for fighting off disease or perhaps making antiplague or bodybalm concoctions.

Rolled a 10 nature.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Wed 23 Mar 2016.

Night falls before you reach Oleg’s and without knowing exactly where the trading post is, you decide to camp for another night, however this night passes quietly with no disturbances.  A check of Percy, Moto, Bai and the horses shows no signs of disease, although you all know that some diseases take days to reveal themselves, so there might still be trouble further down the line.  You see a few game birds and a couple of small deer in the distance, but with no great hunting skills among the group no one takes them for the pot, so you are stuck with basic meals again, just as you were at the previous camp site.

Next morning, three of four hours into your journey, you see what must be Oleg’s.  It is an old military outpost with a 10ft palisade wall, four 20ft wooden corner towers and a fairly solid gate – which stands open.  A thin stream of smoke rises from somewhere inside the compound.

Like before, Rook remains quiet during the rides. Like the night before, he took on the double watch despite any complaints or arguments otherwise. He kept a close eye on the horses, though it wasn't nearly as close as Pipre's eyes. He perks up in the saddle when the outpost comes into view. He stares at the walls, looking over the condition of the wood that made them up. Rook gave his horse gentle urging to move slightly faster.

Moto watched with a smile as Pipre checked over Bai and Percy. His smile faded as Pipre checked him over. Still, he was glad to know there where no signs of disease, as yet.

On morning of the next day, Moto got up and still felt good. Yet he was still worried, but tried not to think about it. As what must be Oleg’s came into view, Moto smiled. They where here at last. Entering through the open gate, Moto spoke aloud. “Hello! Is anyone here!”
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Thu 24 Mar 2016.

Pipre had been wearing a shawl over her head to keep the chill of the morning when they had set out and then to keep the sun off her neck as it rose behind them. By the time they reached the outpost the soreness of her thighs and back from the rough ride of the past days had set in full force and she was happy to finish the journey stretching her legs. As she was climbing off, however, she paused thoughtfully, looking up and over at the wooden building and trying to remember where she had seen it. "Suppose all these types of outposts look about the same, huh? Still, can't shake how familiar it seems."

She ignores it, for now, and takes the reins in hand, leading Ragweed who in turn leads Thistle. She follows Moto, hanging back just a moment to rub the inside of her thighs and wince, "Wonder if they have a masseuse here," she says to herself. She is eager to see what the outpost holds and trots to catch up.

Borric welcomed the sight of the trading post. The fact that it looked like a military outpost made him feel better. He rode near the front of the group and continued through the gate after Moto called out in greeting. "Let's get settled inside. I'm looking forward to a hot meal tonight." He looked around once he entered through the open gates.

Pipre's diagnosis does not comfort Percy, but he thanks the young woman anyway, and is at least relieved that thus far there is no sign of disease, though in the aftermath of her examination the occasional cough can be heard and he spends the journey poking and prodding his tongue, trying to determine if it feels numb or not.

Impending illness aside, the gentleman is most alert during his stint on watch, and thankful that there are no further disturbances, even manages to seem relaxed around Moto, despite his earlier misgivings over that worthy's demonic heritage.

Sleep is once more fitful, though at least his worry seems Percy rising early and without complaint, if not a few groans for the days in the saddle and nights on the ground are taking a toll, though he seems much happier once Pipre proclaims him still disease-free.

And like Pipre, Percy is keen to get out of the saddle, and likewise dismounts to take the opportunity to stand and stretch, leading his horse after Borric, nodding in agreement with the Knight Paladin, finding himself with an appetite at last.

"Roast beef," he remarks dreamily, licking his lips at the prospect.

"I would never have thought riding a horse could be such hard work." Rikka agrees with the others as she dismounts outside the Trading Post and starts stretching her back.

NPCed

As you approach the Trade Post you can see that someone has been working on it, timbers have been replaced, gaps caulked – and although it is clearly old it looks fairly solid still.  Indeed there is a man working of the roof of one of the buildings as you approach.

Inside, a woman stand in the courtyard.  She is probably in her twenties, but fifteen to twenty years younger than the man working on the roof.  She has sturdy boots, a heavy calf-length skirt and a battered looking woollen jacket and holds what appears to be a small bucket of nails.

She has a vaguely puzzled look on her face as you ride into the yard.  ”I was expecting you to look more like soldiers.” she says the puzzlement continuing through to her voice ”And there are more of you than we expected.”

Then a look of uncertainty crosses her face ”You are the guards they said they would send from Restov, aren’t you?”


OOC -  Group 0 map updated to show Oleg's
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:44, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

"To be fair, this doesn't look much like a trading post," Pipre says, moving up to speaking range with the woman, "However, we are sent from Restov as part of Henry de la Maistre's expedition and guard was among the various job titles we were proffered." Pipre smiles, the light reflecting vividly, sparkling even, in the dark wells that are her eyes. "Very nice to meet you; my name is Pipre. I think you'll find the full number of us prepared and eager to begin doing good work here and in the lands that range further on. Perhaps we can talk at length and comfort once our beasts have been tended?"

”Henry de le Maistre?  Is he one of the swordlords?” she asks, her voice getting shriller, while the man above stops his hammering and appears to listen.

”Look,” she says without waiting for a response ”We sent to Restov to ask the council for some guards to help protect us from the bandits, and  Big Bear Charlie told us they were going to send some.  Anyway, it doesn’t matter, the bandits will be here tomorrow for their ‘Tax’.” she says with the exasperation clear in her voice. ”If you aren’t here to save us, it will probably be the end of this place.” she says resignedly.

Then clearly beaten, she continues  ”I am Svetlana, that is my husband Oleg.” she says indicating the older man, who is now hammering industriously up on the roof.

"Well...I think our little group here could handle a few bandits. If we could have some information on them, we may be able to prepare an ambush. Where do they usually enter town from? Do they come at a certain time?"

Adoven had never set up an ambush before, but if the lady had information it would be helpful.

Svetlana looks around the small outpost come trade post, the only building that exists in this rural backwater - although 'rural' might be overplaying the local facilities somewhat.

"They come through the gate, normally an hour after dawn."

Vik dismounts, setting her pack on the ground for a moment.

"Is there need of a few hands to shore up the defenses? I'm sure some of my party could help with hammering nails and sawing planks."

"We leave the gate open for them,"  Svetlana says in a very downbeat voice "they do less damage that way ...." she adds by way of explanation.

The hammering above sounds very loud, almost as if Oleg is taking his frustration out on the nails holding the roof area together.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 15:24, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

In reply to Svetlana (msg # 120):

"Well then can I help with patching the roof?"

Vik rested her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side

Svetlana looks hard at Vik, and decided that she is probably not going to steal her man from her.  "Oleg! she calls, "The lady here wants to come and help you fix the roof."  And then she points the way up onto one to the tower roofs that Oleg is working on.

"If you want to." she tells Vik.

Bai keeps mostly quiet as Vik and Adoven ask about the bandits. When it seems they've finished she decides she no longer wishes to stay quiet. "I was wondering, about how many of these bandits tend to come at once, a dozen, more? Also, how far can you see from up there Oleg?" As she speaks the woman unsaddles and begins scribbling in her notebook. "I'm sorry if I'm asking a lot at once, but I hate to go wondering about something when it can just be answered. Is there anything special about them, or are they just your average ruffians with blades and horses. Oh and where abouts do they come from?"

"You want to fight a war, send soldiers. But they can't build a community." Rook replies to Svetlana in passing, riding his horse into the fort and heading directly for the stables. Inside he dismounts and leads it to the watering trough. Walking out of the building, he stretches only his arms and then places his hands on his hips as he walks a full circuit of the area just inside the wall.

His walk stops at the gate and he crosses his arms over his chest, eyeing it silently. After a few moments of deliberation, he moves to the fire between the tables outside the bunk house and finds a piece of charcoal. Still hot, he juggles it between hands on his walk out of the gate. He moves to each side of it, drawing a large, but rough depiction of Erastil's holy symbol on the supporting timbers. The young man steps back, tossing the charcoal at his feet and stamping on it, then holds both hands up and closes his eyes to say a prayer. It lasts several minutes and he ends it by touching his own symbol reverently.

Moving back inside, he looks up to the building where he'd heard the hammering come from last. Rook calls out in a volume unheard before. "Master Oleg, are you going to come and greet your guests or stay up on the roof pouting!?"

In reply to Svetlana (msg # 122):

Vik quickly shed her armour, placing it near her pack and scaling the ladder up to the roof to help Oleg

"Hello Oleg, well met. Mind handing me a hammer?"

"Bandits."  Percy seems quite offended at the notion, absently patting his horse. "Lawless scum, preying on honest traders ... and at a time when all good folk would still be abed !  Dealing with them would be in our remit, eh Borric ?"  For all that he seems quite het up, he defers to the Knight Paladin.

"Personally I hope they decide to face us," he renarks vehemently.  "It's a long ride back to Restov should they wish to take their chances with a magistrate and the noose," the young gentleman smiles, hand resting on the pommel of his blade.

Rook's demand draws a look of annoyance from the usually mild mannered Percy, though he bites back on his ire.  "Master Oleg is working hard to keep the rain off our heads," he suggests to the hunter.  "I think we can see to our own needs for the moment."  Once more he smiles equably, nodding at Rook.

In truth, Moto expected this man, Oleg to be Svetlana's father, not husband due to the huge age difference. Talk about robbing the cradle...or the grave. Perhaps Svetlana' just looked twenty years younger. Whatever the case, it was none of Moto's business that this woman married her grandfather. So he tried to hide his shocked expression.

Moto listened to Svetlana's plight, as grandpa hammered away on the roof. “Percy's words are wise and well said. Know this Svetlana, I will guard your goods. Rest assure, I will not allow these bandits to steal from you tomorrow. My friends, I think an ambush in the fort would be good. Once they are in have the doors closed behind them and force a surrender. If they don't surrender, unfortunately we will have to cut them down where they stand. I can cast a few sleep spells to knock down their numbers in the beginning. Are we of like mind?” 

Borric slowly dismounted from his horse. He was glad to have made it to the trading post. He smiled with the flurry of activity. There was no need to lead when people had initiative. "Where can we stay the night? We've coin." Borric did have gold for just this purpose.

Rikka looks hard at Rook as he treats Svetlana with such little regard and makes free of the facilities to do as he sees fit.   As he disappears into the stables says quietly "It was people like him that encouraged me to move away from the farm.  Women just aren't good enough for him and his  sort."

Svetlana looks surprised by Rook’s initial words or advice, and frowns as he makes his way into the stables without so much as a by-your-leave, however she answers Bai’s question as best she can, while Vik climbs the steps up to the tower top where Oleg works.

”There are generally about  that many, yes.” she responds to Bai, ”And I am not sure how to tell a normal ruffian from a special one.  They come from the south and they have bows as well as blades.  They threatened us with fire arrows if we didn’t open the gates to them.”

Once Vik reaches the top of the tower she sees that there is a rundown and broken catapult up there and that Oleg has one of the largest crossbows that she has ever seen.  It also commands a good view of the surrounding countryside, allowing the occupants to see who is approaching from a goodly distance away.

Svetlana allows the conversation to continue between the others and appears to have made her mind up by the time Borric ask his question concerning accommodation.  ”You can stay in the bunk house.  There is no one else in there at the moment, although there isn’t enough room for all of your animals in the stable.  Some will have to be quartered outside?  Behind the stable, perhaps?  However, there will be no charge for the accommodation tonight.”

As Rook returns and makes his demand that Oleg comes and speaks with him, the man scowls and stands up.  ”Excuse me miss.  I was just fixing those loose planks over there.” he says quietly to Vik,  and sure enough there are a few nails a hammer and a set of loose planks by the corner of the tower roof.   Picking up his heavy crossbow he takes a circuitous route back down to the courtyard and asks the cleric ”Hasn’t my wife dealt with your questions to your satisfaction?”

"That it should Percy." Borric replied to the poet gentleman, "We've been given a great responsibility." He turned to Oleg when he climbed down from the wall. "How many times have the bandits taken things from you? What was taken? Who else lives here with you?" It was important for him to get as much information as possible.

The young human spares Percy a reproachful glance as he immediately walks up to Oleg, extending a rough hand to him.

"Hope you'll forgive me for the jab. I couldn't see no other way to get you down. I mean, your work force has multiplied, won't you spare a few minutes to introduce yourself? I don't believe it's unreasonable to wanna meet someone I've agreed to keep from harm. I'm Rook. You do good work. You replace all them wall posts yourself?"

In reply to DM (msg # 130):

Vik hammers industriously, the opportunity to work on a structure not pitching in a winter squall quite relaxing. She might not be a master carpenter, but a hammer and nails wasn't so vexing as to defeat her.

Moto stood in silence as the rest of the group didn't even give a reply to his words. He was beginning to feel as if he was an after thought...no not even that. If Borric was trying to take over the leadership role, which should rightly belong to Moto himself, then let Borric come up with his own plan. It would be without Moto's keen insights. He looked hard at Borric with a somewhat frustrated expression before turning to Svetlana and smiling to hide his troubled mind. “Your beauty is only surpassed by your generosity Svetlana. Thank you.” After giving thanks, Moto headed to the stables, putting away his horse and went to check out the bunk house.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Sun 27 Mar 2016.

Borric watched the flurry of activity surrounding Oleg and his wife. There were several questions and voices speaking almost all at once. He didn't hear Moto's suggestion. "My apologies Master Oleg. We must be overwhelming with all of this chatter." He thought he recognized his discomfort with all of the questions, "Mistress Svetlana, thank you for your generosity. But I hope not to overstep, but we've been traveling for days. And I look forward to a hot meal. Shall we discuss how we may best dispatch these bandits over a meal?"


Borric d'Cordain rolled 0 using 1d20-1.  Notice Moto. Perception check.
Wow, can't roll lower than that :)

”They have been three times so far.” Oleg replies gruffly to Boric ”And they take everything in the trade store.” He continues indicating the hut in the middle of the yard (A4)  ”Not that there is anything left there now.  Gods know what they will want this time!”  Svetlana grimaces at the pain in her husband’s voice and moves closes to him so that she can slip her hand through his arm.

Then he turns to Rook and excuses himself the handshake by holding out the crossbow to show his hand is already occupied.  ”I don’t have a work force,” he replies with a frown ”There is just Svetlana and I, and we are in this together.  Anyway, once I had decided that I wasn’t going to shoot you, I was talking to the young lady who offered to help with the repairs.”

The touchy old man watches the byplay between Moto and Borric and scowls at the complement Moto bestows on his wife, while Svetlana blushes and looks down at her feet.   Knowing that two horses have already been taken into the stable, Oleg continues ”There is room for another two horse in the stable.  Mind you don’t disturb Claptrap, he don’t like too much noise and disturbance.  The rest of them, and that Yak, will have to go behind the stables.” he adds, re-enforcing his wife’s decision from earlier.

Then with a nod towards Svetlana he disengages his arm and strides across to the bunk house, throwing the door open wide, ”Its gonna be tight in there, that are only eight beds.” he says having taken a quick head count, “Although I will find another paillasse to put on the floor.”

At Oleg’s glance, Svetlana head back towards the main house, ”I had better get dinner started.”

The bunk house will be a tight fit.  There are nine of you and only four double bunks, although there is space on the floor for another mattress and the rest of your gear -  however, it is going to be close-quarters living, and it will be even tighter when Henry gets here …

Moto's suggestion does not pass unnoticed by Percy, though it is the mention of closing the doors behind them that brings a raised brow and a "not a task I'd wish upon my worst critic," from the young gentleman ... though it seems in all the excitement that Borric does not hear his partner of the watch, for which Percy is quite thankful.

Indeed, the Knight Paladin shows most proper manners towards their hosts, and Percy's head dips in approval as Borric tactfully states that any questions and plans can wait upon the party settling in ... though he cannot help but smile as Rook's bluntness is punctuated if not overshadowed by Vik's enthusiastic hammering. "Though I'm sure Vik and that hammer would soon see them change their tunes and not they mine !"

"Shall we see to the quartering of the mounts ?" he suggests happily to Pipre and Bai, "Looks like there are plenty of chores to be occupying us all this day."

Moto looked at Percy and nodded, putting a friendly hand on his shoulder. This time, Moto spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “It is a dangerous task Percy. That is why the task of closing the doors behind the bandit scum will be mine. I will be positioned behind one of the open doors. Once they are in I will cast my sleep spell, then I will close the doors to prevent escape. It will then be up to Borric to led the rest of the ambush.”

Moto then made good note of Oleg. The fact that he would not shake Rook's hand was a sign of bad faith. Considering Rook, Moto and the rest would most likely battle to the death to save Oleg's trading post. Also, the way he treated his very young bride like a slave was disheartening. It was then Moto made up his mind...without another word he headed to the stables, putting away his horse.

OOC: Looking at the map of the trading post, it looks that the doors swing inward when open. Also GM, I will be passing you a note. Yes, I'm passing notes to the GM. :)

A short while later there is a commotion from the main house.  "GET OUT OF HERE!" Svetlana's voice rings out loud and Clear.  "OLEG!!!"

"There are two doors. It will be faster if I help you. I can manage to go unnoticed, and they may not see me until it is too late. Will we be attacking lethally to begin with or just rendering them unconcious?"

OOC: pardon my lateness!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

The initiative that people possessed in the group increased the confidence that Borric had that they would prevail tomorrow. "Then it seems that we have the formation of a plan. Adoven and Moto will close the gates on the bandits. The rest of us..." He seemed unsure... but then there was a racket.

Borric stood in his place at the table. "Oleg? What is it? Do you need some help?" He lifted his leg to clear himself from the table. He intended to follow Oleg into the house.

Vik abandoned her hammering to climb down, looking to see what the commotion was

"What's the matter then?"

Moto was more than a little shocked at the severe overreaction. To go from zero to completely hysterical was a bit over blown. By the gods, she cut him off before his most generous offer. Walking out quickly, Moto gave a quick reply. “Ok....a simple no would have sufficed.”  Out of the main house and cursing under his breath, a face red with anger, Moto drew his sword and his dagger handing both to Adoven. “Make sure nothing bad happens to these. I want the record to show I was unarmed before I get attacked. Crazy and paranoid people, curse my luck! No good deed goes unpunished.” Moto watched as Oleg and Borric went in. He then waited with his arms crossed, with a look like he was expecting an old fashioned punching match. Moto hoped that it would only be an honest fist fight, no one needed to die over such a simple thing...However, if Oleg pulled his crossbow....things where going to get ugly.

OOC: Standing about five feet from the main house door.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Tue 29 Mar 2016.

No one goes into the house, but Svetlana follows Moto out of the door carrying a broom, bristles facing away from her, as if she wanted to sweep the sorcerer out of the door.   Then, before Moto can have get his excuse out, Svetlana has her say.  "And stay out of my house.  What sort of person thinks he can just walk into a woman's house uninvited?" she demands of the asesembled  audience.

"And just what were you doing in my house?" Oleg demands of Moto as he runs back from behind the stables, where he has been helping secure horses.  "And what have you done to upset my wife?" he demands of the sorcorer as he desperately tries to divest himself of his weapons - although having already declared himself as able to use spells, no-one is liable to sees it as more than symbolic.

Going across to stand by his wife, Oleg comforts her as best he can, and then lays down the law.  "I shouldn't have to say this, because it is basic good manners -  But no-one goes into my house without asking first.  It is not just another place for you to make free with."  he says looking at the sorcerer, "And my wife is an equal part of this business," he switches his glance to Rook "And if she says something goes -  then it goes.  I am grateful that you have agreed to help us with the bandits, because this next visit would probably have been the end of this trading post, but that doesn't mean you can do what you like!"

Then more quietly he comments to Svetlana  "And this is why I didn't want to go back to civilisation" and even thugh he speaks quietly the distain id clear in  his voice.

Moto glared at the man before him. “How dare you! First off, I had no idea it was your house when I first entered it. Is not all of this your house and home? Secondly, we are going to risk our lives tomorrow to save you and yours. Do you really know what we risk!? So unless you plan to fight along side us for YOUR home, have some respect for those that will and know your place. For the gods, you wouldn't even put down your crossbow to shake Rook's hand...and you dare speak to us of manner!? For a man that didn't want to go back to civilization, you where quick to go begging that same civilization for guards. I guess a guard's life means very little to you? Ungrateful cur.”

"Know my place?  Better that you should know yours." Oleg snarls at the sorcerer.    "You come in here and make free with the place like you damned well own it.  Your priest," he nods at Rook "made his way into the stables, saw to his horse, had a quick pray by the fire and then summoned me down here, all with out a by-your-leave or a word to my wife.  Then you go sneaking about where ever you like. It is because of the likes of you that we left Restov in the first place, took this charter to try to make something of ourselves.  If YOU don't want to stay and face the bandits, then don't.  Make your way back to where ever you came from.  However, if you stay in this trading post, then  you need to learn some manners." he says looking around the group, waiting to see who will speak up on their behalf.

Svetlana stands defiantly beside by her man, broom at the ready.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:46, Tue 29 Mar 2016.

Moto smiles and laughs at him, yet his eyes where filled with anger. Oleg had pushed him to far. “Oleg, I say you are a prideful fool...and a coward. Some of us may die tomorrow and you won't care. I will stay here this one night, to handle the bandits tomorrow so that you, the coward and your wife will be safe in the future. I will not spent another night in this trading post, nor will you see me again....So keep your coward mouth shut before me till then, or I swear this oath to you Oleg by ALL the gods, I will break your face!” With that Moto filled his waterskin at the well, grabbed his weapons and went into the bunk house to rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Tue 29 Mar 2016.

Bai groaned inwardly as Moto and the homeowners fought. She went to speak up after Oleg said his peace, but much to her disappointment Moto had to have the last word. "Alright, alright, there's no need for any of this." She put her hands up in a placating gesture, happy that Moto had finally removed himself from the situation. "People say things when they've been caught in the wrong, that's all. Don't take the boys words too seriously. I don't think anyone here thinks you're cowards and more than we think you'd ignore the deaths of those that came to help you. I think the boy is just tired from a long journey and went off without thinking."

Then she turned to Borric and spoke quietly. "Since you're our leader for now, I'd recommend you have a word with him and see that he shallows his pride and apologizes in the morning, unless he really is planning on leaving on his own."

OOC: Bai Kao rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Diplomacy

By the time Bai speaks, Oleg is clenching and unclenching his fists, the anger and frustration clear in his face.  But the sentiment carried withing her words, along with Svetlana taking his arm, is enough to calm the man somewhat, and the angry red flush starts to drain from his face.

For a moment, Percy is sure that the bandits have come early and his hand is halfway to his blade when he sees Moto driven out of the house by an obviously irate Svetlana.  For a moment his lips quirks as he assumes this to be some amusing misunderstanding which will make for good retellings around campfires to come ... but then all thought of such pleasantries vanishes with the smile as Moto and Oleg exchange heated words.

"My apologies master Oleg, mistress Sveltana," he offers glumly, on the back of Bai's concilatory approach, looking to Borric with sympathy.

Vik watched the goings-on with bemusement and returned to the roof to continue patching things and hammering nails.

"Typical southlanders."

Borric stood with his arms crossed. He listened to Moto shout and issue threats. He kept his opinion in check. This was one individual that had been caught in the man's home accosting his wife. Oleg would be within his rights if he choose to exercise them.

He heard Bai's suggestion that he talk with Moto. He considered it for a second, but he shook his head. "Moto will have to live with his decision. I know my place is here... and I believe that most of us knows better than to accost Oleg's wife in their home. If he wants to stay, he should know what to do. But I daresay that I don't think that Oleg would be forgiving."

Borric turned to Oleg, "I'm sorry about what transpired. Please don't judge us by the actions of one individual. However, we still have much to discuss on how we're going to tackle the bandits tomorrow." He turned to the others, "Moto said that he'll use a wizard's spells. But we need to be prepared if it doesn't all go as planned."

"Does anyone have other magical spells? We'll also need archers. My preference is a longsword and shield."

Oleg nods as Percy and Borric join in with apologies and placating comments, although both he and Svetlana are clearly upset still.  ”One of the reasons we can out here was to get away from people behaving like that,” Svetlana adds by way of explanation ”And until the bandits came, we were able to get on with our lives quietly.”

”Its alright love.” Oleg tries to reassure her, before turning back to the group. ” I expect anyone who wants to come into my house to knock and wait until they are invited.” he specifies before he moves across to the tables and site down ready to join in Borric’s council of war.  "What do you want to know from me?"

”I’ll get on with dinner.” Svetlana says as she disappears back into the house.

Adoven joins Borric in the impromptu war council.

"I can toss some daggers, but I am much more useful sneaking in and using these" Adoven touches each sword sheathed over each shoulder."I can remain hidden fairly well. Might be useful to have a few of us stationed in roughly a circle around where they will be entering. That way we have them surrounded. This will not only give us a tactical advantage, but also hopefully protect Oleg's property as well. If we can contain the fight, we can win the fight."

For a moment the young gentleman considers joining Vik on the roof.  While the hammering looks rather more strenuous than he's generally minded to risk, at least the work might get him away from the awkwardness down on the ground !  But Percy breathes a sigh of relief as Oleg proves reasonable, for all he and his wife were wronged.

But alas, duty calls, and even the best beast-handlers of his acquaintance are yet to train a horse to groom itself. "The mounts," he repeats, nodding to Bai.

"I'll have a quiet word with Moto later," he assures her in a low tone as he moves off, leading a couple of the horses.  "I've sat watches with him ... we were both wounded in the course of duty," it was a nasty bite, "I'm sure he'll listen to sense."

"If not ... well, should he break my nose, as least I can console myself that such a badge of honor would find favour with the ladies.  Or so I'm told ..."

Rikka follows Adoven to the tables, and offers up her skills.  "Spell and Sword for me," she offers as her skills. "And I can use them both at the same time, if needs be. I have a spell, that from close range could cause them to be blinded or stunned."

NPCed
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Wed 30 Mar 2016.

Wandering over to the tables, Bai is happy the subject is changing. "I'm afraid you all out-class me on this one. I'm a diplomat first and foremost, but that aside I've found that I'm not totally incompetent with this." She patted at the morningstar that hung from her hip.

"Oh, and I'm more than able to cast a bit of mending magic, but I'm afraid not as much as some of us." She gave a smile and shrugged. She hoped that the group wouldn't hold her lack of combat prowess against her.

"My mentor told me that we all have tools. And even a tool for mending pieces of leather had their uses." Borric said reassuringly to Bai. He craned his head to spot Vik hammering away. She seemed content to be up there, but there was much to do. "Vik! Come down from there. We need to hear you plans regarding the bandits." He waited for Vik to climb down before he continued. "A few of us shared that they are proficient with sword, mace or spell. What of you, Vik? I've seen your sword belt. Will you stand near the center when the bandits arrive or are you more suited to sneaking in like Adoven?"


When most of the introductions were completed, Borric turned to Oleg. "I understand that the bandits came more than once. Can you share any more details? How many times did they come? Did one speak more than the others? Someone must lead the group."

"Very well spoke my friend. You will make a fine leader of our group."

In reply to Borric d'Cordain (msg # 158):

Vik wiped the sweat from her brow and slipped the hammer into her belt, climbing down at Borric's behest

"We show mercy to the ones who surrender, the shackle and service should do. The ones who insist on fighting, we dispatch swiftly to their gods."

She finally reached the ground, leaping down and retrieving her blades as Borric asked about them, drawing one and tilting it so the light caught it

"Hard steel, sharpened nightly, oiled leather grips. You've likely seen Adoven fighting with his, and no doubt he is a good duelist, but I was trained to fight on pitching decks, a sword in each hand. Leave stealth in Adoven's capable hands, I shall stand in the center and take the fight as it comes like a rock in the waves."

She indicated the back of her sword belt, where her boarding axes sat in their loops

"There are also my axes, should skulls need splitting and bones splintering, though they are not as second nature to my hands"

Oleg sighs as he remembers the bandit visits.  ”The first time they came it was a bit of a shock, there  seemed to be hundreds of them, although I suppose it was only a couple of dozen.  Led by a nasty woman with a pair of hatchets, threatened to cut off one of my hands, she did – while three of her men were holding me down.  More her men were holding Svetlana, and were talking about taking her away with them.  For a bit of fun, as they put it.  We gave them all the trade goods and they left.  She even took Svetlana’s wedding ring.  That was when we sent for help.  We didn’t want to give up the charter, but we couldn’t fight that many on our own.  The second time, the woman wasn’t with them.  One of the men led them in, demanded the trade goods and left.  Leering at Svetlana all the time they were.  But there were less of them that time.  I guess they knew we wouldn’t put up a fight by then.” The pain and the resignation are clear in his voice, as is the anger and indignity of having to ask for help from Restov.

”They are due again tomorrow, and there aren’t any trade goods left in the shed,” he indicates the central storage shed (A4), ”I was going to buy them off with the rest of my stock, and then set off for Restov.  But we had to try and stick it out, or else I would had no self-respect left at all.” he finished gruffly.

Rook took the indication of full hands by throwing his up peacefully. He motioned to Vik and opened his mouth as though to say something, but closed it and backed away from Oleg. He returned to the stable to remove the saddle and kit from the horse and brush it down. He looked over at Moto as he took care of his horse and went to the bunk house, then returned to the brushing. Rook made sure there was fresh food and water for the animals in the stable, then went around back to help with the other beasts. Again while Oleg was there, he thought about conversing with him, but chose instead to work in silence.

The young human follows quickly after Oleg at the sound of the commotion with his wife and all. Moto's behavior was a little hard to figure out and it put a perplexed look on Rook's face. He scratches the faint stubble on his chin. His eyes widen as an apparent shouting match erupts between the owner and the sorcerer. And then somehow his name comes up in it and he throws his hands out to the side with an expression like someone just threw a horse pile into his open mouth. "I'm sorry for tending to the animal that carried me for three days so quickly. I wanted to give it relief. I won't apologize for giving thanks for our safety, or for asking for the strength to help. But I will apologize for being rude. I learned about birthin' babies and planting crops. Introducing myself wasn't something we went over. You both have a wonderful home and I only want to help it thrive."

Hands on his hips, he watched Moto take verbal swings at Oleg before stalking off to the bunk house. His mouth pulled into a line and he wandered in place for a moment as he waited for the tension to leave the air. Luckily Bai was there to calm things down. He thought back to the conversation with Henry about leadership so many days ago. When most of the group congregated at the tables, he followed and stood at the back, listening and thinking.

Pipre was seeing to her animals and missed most of the commotion. In truth she was ready to leave the stables when the heated words really got going but she decided to wait it out for a moment that she could miss the thing entirely. While she waited near the door she got an idea and moved to her belongings. She retrieved the rolled, leather grooming kit and her clean night shirt, making a little bindle with the shirt to carry the kit and also a bottle she fills with ale and then corks. When she is done preparing those supplies the scene outside has moved into an impromptu strategy discussion. She wanders in close enough to hear Oleg talking, listening as she idly chews on a tooth cleaning stick, rolling it from one corner of her lips to the other.

"You know, this is an unfortunate location in some ways. Couple days north or east and you wouldn't be having these issues but it's a matter of convenience for them to hit you up since they pass through here heading to the South Brevoy road. They camp to the south and work up here." She pauses in thought and then nods to herself, "No matter the plan tomorrow we need to make sure none of them escape to warn the main encampment that we are here. The boys they send should be complacent and lacking cleverness; it shouldn't be difficult to handle the token show of force but that doesn't mean we should err on the side of ease. Don't get cocky and don't let any escape, that's my advice."

With that she shifts the bindle over her shoulder. "Any springs around here?" she asks, looking expectantly at Oleg.

Oleg looks over his shoulder at Pipre, a frown on his face as she provides an analysis of the bandit situation, however, he responds automatically to her question.  "Plenty of little streams and rills around." he says with a shrug.

Bai turned around in her seat, looking at the trading post for a while. Then her attention turned to the sky as she spoke, almost absentmindedly. "I'm no tactician, but it seems to me that what would be most prudent is to minimize our presence. If I was throwing a surprise party, it wouldn't due to have everyone's coats in the closet by the door. To the same token full stables and strangers hanging around a normally empty trading post would be a give away." She shifted her gaze to Pipre and Rook, "Would it be a terrible trouble to move the horses out towards those midden pits in the morning, and keep them quiet?" Without waiting for an answer she shifted her gaze over to the homesteader, "And how hard is it to close and open those gates in a hurry, say if two of our more strapping lads were at it?" Leaning back on her elbows she watched a flock of birds move lazily through the sky some distance off.

Moto lays himself down in one of the beds of the bunk house. It was softer than he expected, but almost anything would be better then his bedroll after so many days out in the wilds. He made a quick plan of what he was going to do after the battle, if he lived through the battle. With a sigh, Moto put his hat over the top of his face and went to sleep, hoping to dream of fair maidens, glasses if beer and better days.

"I can close the gates alone." Oleg says with a shrudg, in response to Bai's question.

Later, Svetlana brings out the ubiquitous pot of stew and some newly made flat breads for dinner  – however, dessert is the house speciality, Honey Cakes, - light and sweet, with a hint of spicing and still warm from the oven.   They really are delicious.

---

The elements of the plan as I interpret your thoughts.

• Move horses from stables and public areas out of sight.
• Hide youselves out of sight – differentiating between missile and melee.
• Open the gates and lure the bandits into the yard.
• Close the gates behind the bandits.
• Attack the bandits.
• Don’t let any escape.

Last chances for minor tweaks and conversation -  please let me know where you want your be to be (using the grid system on the map of Oleg’s)  First come/first served :)

Oleg will help move the animals to the area  D4:E15

Moto continues to dream...with odd music in the background...

OOC: Moto will be positioned at R21, behind the open door. (before the battle)one half-hour after sunrise, he will cast Mage Armor on himself(and will renew it once if needed), lasts for one hour per casting.

Once all the bandits seem to be inside, Moto will then cast his sleep spell(DC13). Hopefully, getting as many as possible. Then, he will try to close the doors. If Moto dies, it's a one way ticket to Valhalla. :)

Adoven sits quietly and enjoys the delicious honey cakes.

OOC: Adoven will be at M21 to shut the other gate. Hiding as best he can, will make stealth checks as you request!

Bai does her best the rest of the to smooth things over with Svetlana, complimenting her on her food and asking if she can help with any of the house work.

OOC: Bai will be at O11, just inside of the storage house, but out of sight from anyone in the yard.

Viktoria cinched her belt once more and drew her swords, tapping them against the metal plates on her armoured skirt, her coat weighing on her shoulders. She whispered a prayer softly to Gorum over her swords before sheathing them and repeating the process over her axes. She'd sharpened them while eating stew, and had thanked Oleg and Svetlana both for the honey cakes, one of which was stuffed (and a tad crushed) in the pocket of her belt.

Slipping the axes in her belt again, she drew her swords, worrying them in her hands needlessly. Fear before the fight, fear after, but never during. Her captain had told her that in her first month amidst the waves.

OOC: P18 for Vik

U16, next to the door.

Rook looks from Bai over to the stables and then to the midden pits. His mouth flattens out and he tilts his head to one side. "I don't know. We've got an awful lot of horses. Keeping them quiet won't be a problem, but hiding them is the problem. We can try to make it work, about all we can do." He takes the offered dinner with genuine gratitude, especially the cake that, while reminds him of home, is much better than his mother made. Not that he would ever tell her. "Does this mean you'll be the one to call 'em all out, Vik?"

L8.

Rikka takes a honey cake and goes and stands in front of the gates looking into the compound "The animals should be out of sight behind the stables." She opines, as she returns to the tables.  "I'll wait just inside the stables."  <J14>

NPCed
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:30, Sat 02 Apr 2016.

I have put a new map in place that shows the Trading Post with the gates open and the positions of those we have.

It didn't work quite  as I had hoped -  but I think you should be able to work out where people are for the time being.  Next time I will try a different type face in a larger size.

In reply to Rook Sanderson (msg # 174):

"I suppose it does. Just be quick to support me, if you could, I can only fight a few of them at once."

Vik rolled her shoulders, practicing her speech in her head. She wasn't all that good with them, but she could likely try to trick them or keep them busy with patter.

"I'll talk to them," Pipre interjects, rubbing the side of her forearm idly and then continuing to explain, "I've got some things to say to them." Maybe her explanation only caused more confusion, but she didn't elaborate any further. She instead starts on a second train of thought, "If Vik and I sit at the table there's no need to hide the horseflesh. It makes sense for travelers to be here and it makes sense for travelers to have horses. Of course, a group of our full size might spook them and drive them off but a couple of people will just be a little coin on the side for them. A further temptation."

"Anyhow, more important business. I'm off to find a bath anyone want to join me?" With that she would leave, with or without company, going off to find a nice bath; ideally a warm spring but cool streams won't be passed up.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Sat 02 Apr 2016.

"We should also be prepared for the possibility that they have eyes on the road and saw us come in in the first place. It would be unusual but not unheard of."

THEN she goes to take her bath.

In reply to Viktoria d'Lodovka (msg # 177):

"I'll stand with you Vik." Borric moved away from his previous position to stand next to Viktoria.

With the horses cared for (and he taking much longer than Pipre or Rook to groom the mounts, though the work is done properly), Percy joins the main group for the stew and flat breads, figuring giving Moto some time to think would not be a bad thing, and his stomach certainly agrees, in time to hear Rook's apology to their hosts, a thing well done that certainly softens Percy's attitude towards his companion, though he avoids giving any sign of that, not wanting to be thought to be patronising Rook.

Taking a seat at the table, the young gentleman quickly picks up the gist of the plan and what everyone's role is, save for his own.

"Oh, I can use this," he pats the handle of his rapier. "A gentleman is expected to know of such things, though I believe you have to get up at some hour when the gods themselves are still a-bed if you want to master the blade.  Still, as I say, I can use it, though I doubt the bandits will be as obligingly still as the straw dummies I've slaughtered by the dozens, nor as solicitous for my welfare as the tutors my parents were paying."

"I've no need to prove my manhood by making it a fair fight, though ... if I can run a bandit through from behind I'll most certainly jump at the chance.  I'm sure our foe won't hesitate to take advantage of the fact that they're better with a sword than I am."

Percy takes another bite of the flatbread, nodding his appreciation.

"I'm a merchant by trade, so I'm ideally suited to talk a man to death ... but I've taken Henry's coin and given him my pledge, so I'll not shirk my responsibilities ... use me as you see fit."

"I'm fairly agile ... if we're trying to hide our numbers so as not to scer the brigands away, then I'm game to take up station on the bunk house roof out of sight, so I can jump down and join the fray when the fighting starts ?"

I have updated the game map for this thread.  This is the last chance to change it or discuss last minute tactics.

In reply to Borric d'Cordain (msg # 180):

Vik smiled at Borric

"The bandits don't stand a chance, sir."

The Bandits are surprisingly obliging, turning up on-time about 30 minutes after dawn, and try to  ride in  through the open gate.  The leader only gets as far as Vik before he is forced to stop, meaning the five others spread out behind him, and there are more milling around outside the gate.

They all wear leather armour and are armed bows and short swords -  although the leader has a nice looking composite bow and holds a flask of something in his hands.

He looks down at Vik, Borric and Pipre, and half sneers.  His eyes sweep around the area and he spots Oleg over to the right.  ”Are these your new guards then?  They won’t help you much.  Better get your taxes over here fast, before I lose my patience, and you know what that means …” he says bouncing the flask gently in his hand.

Pipre hiccups, her shoulders rising and falling suddenly as her head remains on her folded arms, on the table. When the bandit leader speaks she lifts her head, reaching to grab her mug and take another quaff. Holding the mug she moves from the bench she is on to sitting on the table and looking over at the bandits. She takes something from her belt, pouring it into her mug and then taking a long drink, her neck muscles clenching and her face souring. She trembles, lowering her head and then whatever is affecting her relents and she relaxes, using a hand to comb her hair gracefully to one side, her eyes somehow sharper than before.

She stands, "You should work on that patience; you've already lost and don't even realize it yet. Kressle would be ashamed at your piss poor performance. Now, get over here, sit down, and I'll tell you what you're going to do. Call the rest of the boys in, too, if any of you want to survive you'd better hand your weapons over to those two standing there. Including that little toy you got in your hand." She stares at the man and then sits down like there is no question that he will obey, gesturing lightly to the seat across from herself.

((Drink cognatogen and intimidate:
15:25, Today: Pipre rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Intimidate.))

For a moment the man quails before Pipre's acerbic analysis of his abilities, but then she reminds him that ‘the boys’ are with him and that he supposed to be their leader  ”Stay where you are!" he snaps over his shoulder at the men, before he turns back to the trio in front of him.  ”Oh?  The little drunk knows Kressle, Eh?  Maybe I’ll take her back with me.  Kressle will like that.  Help keep the boys busy.” he says threateningly ”But lets hear what you gotta says first, it should be a bit of a laugh.  You can tell us while the rest of them get our taxes.” he says sneering down at Pipre.

There is certainly unease amongst his men, a few look to dismount, others  just grin and  finger their bows.

"You're complacent, lazy, didn't check for an ambush and now your poor, poor men, with their stupid, stupid leader are all lined up ready to die. We have you outnumbered and you're in an ambush. You're not taking any taxes home today. You're not taking anything, especially not me. Especially not since I couldn't stand the boredom of you and your men's tiny pricks." She shrugs, her face placid, "Now, as for what I want, I wanted to give you a chance. A bunch of dead bandits doesn't help anyone but the crows. So, this is your only chance; you can turn over your weapons and join us or you can bleed out on this humble ground. We're going to make something of this place and I'd rather not do it with a wake of blood. This place is going to be civilized, surely you aren't stupid enough to not see that coming. Kressle will, no, Kressle has already thrown you in front of the coming war machine in the hopes that your bones will slow it down just a bit; to give her enough time to make off with the gold you've worked to get." With that she pulls aside the cloth on her hand and forearm, showing the small, black hatchet tattoo on her wrist.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:00, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

She narrows her dark eyes, "Think about it, boyo, think hard about who I am and where I come from. I'm sure you know, or one of your boys, and that should give you plenty of pause. You know who you are facing, and you know it's not a fair fight even if it was just me- which it isn't. Surely even now we are close enough for the familiar, acrid stink of my bombs and fire to burn your eyes and with it comes the memory of dark, forgotten places, yes? Of places even the most irreverent bandits treat respectfully." A thin, wry smile touches her dark red lips.

"Now come, make the best decision of your life and get. Off. Your. Horse."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

Borric was caught off guard with Pipre's line of negotiation. He stole a glance to his left. Was she in league with these bandits? Who was Kressle? Did Henry de la Maistre know whom he hired? There were too many questions. Borric needed to stay focused for there were armed bandits in front of him.

"Throw down your weapons. Now."


Borric d'Cordain rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Aid Another Intimidate

"Yeah! Or we'll . . . take your weapons, and beat you with them!"

Vik was trying hard to swallow as she stood there, not striking the most terrifying pose. But the others had the patter down.

OOC: Intimidate roll 4 for aiding

The bandit leader is clearly taken aback by Pipre’s words, and jus for a moment there is a flash of what could be fear in his eyes.  A couple of the men snicker as Pipre talks about ‘small pricks’ although one large half orc laughs makes a rude gesture that suggests that Pipre’s description doesn’t fit him.   However, a couple of the riders appear to be backing their horses away slightly.

Pipre’s second set of comments implying that some of the bandits should, perhaps, know her and fear her, seems to strike a chord with some of the men as well, although the leader looks more puzzled than not.

However, as Borric’s words ring out, the leader turns to face him and sees a foe that he recognises.  Instead of a slip of a girl offering a strange mixture of threats and promises, here is a traditional warrior, dressed in the way he would expect for one of those haughty knightly types and demanding that he disarm himself.

”Here you are” he says with a grin to Borric and complies with the request - tossing the bottle he is holding towards the Paladin.  As it strikes, it bursts into flame leaving a fine residue of burning oil all over the paladin and splashing out over both Vik and Pipre.  <b>”Get ‘em lads.”</aqua> he shouts shrilly.

---
OOC
Damage:  Borric 6 points, Vik 1 point, Pipre 1 point.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:35, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

Pipre tsks and replies, "Your call." She barely notices the splash of flame, she's suffered plenty of them in her chosen path. It was an effect novice alchemists grew accustomed to quickly. She replied with a bomb of her own, jamming the catalyst vial home and then winging the hissing sphere behind the lead man. It detonated with a rumble and bright wash of flame.

OOC
02:33, Today: Pipre rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Target grid intersection to hit 1, 2, and 3; AC 5.
02:31, Today: Pipre rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Initiative

So 1, 2, and 3 should suffer 7 points of splash damage (minimum of 1 on a 1d6 and +6 for intelligence.)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:38, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

Hearing the start of combat, Moto looks through the small crack where the door hinges and meets the wall. He made sure not to hit any comrades in the process. As Moto spoke the words to his spell his voice echoed in a deep, inhuman tone. “Nuku nyt!”

OOC: 00:31, Today: Moto Trema rolled 11 using 1d20.  Initiative.
Throwing a sleep spell on bandits 4, 5 and 6. DC 13 Will save negates.

Range: medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area: one or more living creatures within a 10-ft.-radius burst

A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 HD of creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first. Among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell's point of origin are affected first. HD that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted. Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action). Sleep does not target unconscious creatures, constructs, or undead creatures.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:47, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

Hearing the 'Woomph' of the alchemists fire, Rikka realises that the negotiations are over, and makes her way behind the wagon to M18, swinging her sword menacingly.  However, rather than move into melee, a fan of clashing coloured light bursts from her hand covering the horses and riders in the second rank.

NPCed

Colour Spray

Borric didn't recognize that the bottle the bandit was holding was until it hit him. The attack was so sudden that it threw off his aim. The chakram flew and embedded itself on the wagon. Still he ran forward while drawing his sword to face the mounted bandit.



Standard: Borric d'Cordain rolled 4,8 using 1d20+3,1d8+3.  ATK/DAM w/Chakram
Move: 10' to O17, draw longsword

Edit:
Borric d'Cordain rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  INIT.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

Adoven see's the flames from the fire and slides into range. He tosses a dagger with lightning speed at the closest bandit. After the hit he shouts to Vic, "Flank them for me and we'll make quick work of these fools!"



OOC: 09:36, Today: Adoven rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Combat:
Move: Get to rougly 019 (assuming there are bandits within range there)
Standard: Throw a dagger
09:37, Today: Adoven rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Attack Roll with Thrown Dagger.
09:37, Today: Adoven rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  Damage from Dagger.
09:37, Today: Adoven rolled 6 using 1d6.  Sneak Attack Damage.
Free: Speak

Knowing the battle was afoot, Bai rushed out of the building she'd been in, taking shelter behind the cart near the front gate. She eyed one of the horsemen, intending to target him, but realized at the last moment he was just outside of her reach.

Bai Kao rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.
Move: Running 30' to N16

The fire licked across Vik's arm but she quickly beat at it with her gloved hand.

"Be with you in a moment Adoven!"

Vik had a bandit between her and her fellow Northerner, so she took a step to adjust and stood opposite Borric, her hands freeing her blades as she swung for the bandit's leg. She'd cut her way through, like times before amidst the pitching decks and roiling waves of battle. She trusted her steel to protect her for the time being. They were only bandits . . .

OOC: 5 foot step to Q17 to flank with Borric.

Drawing weapons as move action

Standard action attack, one shortsword (messed up my rolls!), first rolled was a 15 before adjustment so with power attack and flank result should be 20, with 10 damage

If I didn't roll before, my initiative roll is 3
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

At the sound of the explosion, Rook rushed out from behind the building. He paused long enough to locate Oleg and his wife and position himself between them and the bandits.


Full action: Double move to S12.

15:54, Today: Rook Sanderson rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

Grimly, Oleg raises his crossbow and shoots it at the bandit leader.

OOC:

21:11, Today: DM rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Oleg shoots his crossbow.
21:14, Today: DM rolled 10 using 1d10.  Oleg - Damage?

From his position atop the roof of the bunkhouse, Percy listens keenly, blade in hand, to the exchange between Pipre and the bandit leader.  Unlike Borric, the young gentleman finds much of amusement in the alchemists words, though he can only imagine the horrified expression on the bandit's face as the young woman pummels him relentlessly with her words.

But then the spell is broken and the yard erupts into violence.  Percy sighs.  It is quite comfortable upon the roof, taking in what warmth the sun offers at such an early hour, but justice must be served, even before breakfast.

Getting to his feet, Percy takes two steps to the edge of the building and without hesitation leaps off towards the man a-horseback below him ...

Everything seems to happen more or less  at once

Rikk bursts out from the barn and casts her Colour Spray, disturbing the horses of  bandits 2&3, while bandit 3 seems to slump in the saddle, as the still burning Borric throws his chackram and move ito attack the bandit leader.  Percy throws himself from the roof, and knocks the unconious bandit (3) to the floor, but lands on the gate side of the horse, which luckily shields him from the blast of Pipre’s bomb.  The young alchemists bomb explodes between the horses, scaring the creatures  burning the animals and riders alike.

Just then Moto casts his spell through a knot hole in the gate, and bandits 4&5 fall asleep in their saddles, however, bandit 6 manages to get a shot off from his bow, hitting Pipre full square in the chest.  Adoven suddenly appears and hurls a dagger at bandit 2, catching the bandit unprepared, and hits him full in the body -  and the bandit falls from his rearing horse, dead.

Vik steps up and strikes the leading bandit, just as Oleg’s crossbow bolt flies across her head and makes a clean  and forceful strike, almost as if every ounce of the traders pent up anger and frustration had been directed into the missile.  Just as Bai and Rook move to their ready and protective positions.

Coupled with Pipre’s earlier words the rest of the bandits, led by bandit 6, turn tail and flee.

Bandits 1&2  lay on the floor clearly dead, 3 lies severely burned and groaning, while bandits 4 & 5 appear to be staggering to their feet, among five rearing and disturbed horses.

Pipre's mouth opens, stunned as a crossbow bolt sprouts from her chest. Her first instinct is to move close to the nearby bunk house, breaking line of sight with the bandits. She recovers her senses quickly, though, especially with her mind enhanced by her concoctions and she does two things at the same time. She pulls a vial from her belt and opens it with her thumb, holding it up to her mouth. The other hand grabs the shaft of the crossbow bolt. She shuts her eyes hard, rips the bolt out of the top of her chest, and then quickly drinks the elixir. The liquid has a harsh alcoholic burn and tastes awful but it does mute her whimper of pain. She sucks air in through her teeth as the wound sears closed leaving smooth and untouched skin that is, however, still coated in her own blood.

Astonished that he's still on his feet and unscathed, after his heroic jump and the fiery blast that came uncomfortably, Percy pats at the horse's flank, hoping to calm the beast, but more to keep himself from being trampled, as he steps towards the nearest bandit, his rapier held out before him.

"Oh. Sorry about that," he apologises, flicking the point of the thin blade as if to encompass the many things that have happened to the man and his fellows in such a short space of time.

"If you do not wish to share your companions' fate," the young gentleman inclines his head towards the dead and wounded, "I'd throw down that sword of yours," he suggests quite reasonably.

"Or, regrettably, I'll be forced to skewer you.  Admittedly that will not prove overly taxing," he smiles at his deliberate choice of the word, "as I'm unfortunately very well tutored ... but it is a bit early in the day for any bloodshed.  Any more bloodshed," he corrects himself absently, swishing the point of the rapier back and forth a few times as a warm up, though he licks his lips somewhat nervously as he awaits the man's response.

Pipre huffs as she comes back around the corner. "Wonder what that guys problem was," she says, her expression a mix between a scowl and a pout. "He shot me right in the tits." She tries to wipe some of the blood out of her cleavage and off the triangle of skin above it as she surveys the results of the quick battle. "World will be better without a man as stupid and blind as this one," she says, looking down at the man who had lead the bandits and spitting on his corpse.

Percy raises a brow at the bandit. "She certainly doesn't sound happy, does she ?" he suggests to the bandit. "If I were you, I'd be trying very hard not to give her any excuse for any unpleasantness."

His words sound more apologetic than threatening.

In reply to DM (msg # 202):

Vik sheathed her swords and tilted her head, her neck popping as she stretched.

"Well, we'd best deal with the rest of this."

Vik moved to close the gates, now that the bandits had momentarily broken.

"One is getting away!" Borric shouted as he stepped his way through the bodies. He grabbed the reins of one of the horses and turned it around. "We need to get him." Borric attempted to mount the horse he grabbed and give chase.

Use double move action to get to horse and mount.

Neither of the bandits trying to recover their feet show any sign of wanting to fight further.  The one closest to Percy (5) is nodding at every word that issues from Percy's lips, and his eyes barely leave the tip of the rapier.  The other one (4) starts to raise his hands above his head.  The third one (3), the half-orc, is still laying where he fell when Percy knocked him off of his horse.

As Vik moves to close the gate, she realises that Percy, two bandits and their  not-very-happy horses are milling there - shutting the gate would be difficult force them outside.

Borric strides forward and grabs the reins of the horse by bandit-4, but as he starts to mount he remembers that there were more bandits clustered outside the gate -  it isn't just one that got away, there are (perhaps) half a dozen who got away.

Bai watches as Borric begins to give chase to the bandits that had fled. She had barely gotten a look at them before they had left, but it was likely there were more than a few. Without a word she ran and mounted another of the bandits horses and took chase alongside Borric.

"Hey Bai, when you go tell Borric to get back here. We don't have time to chase a bunch of loser bandits around the countryside." To anyone still nearby she explains, "Just as well that Kressle sends a few waves at us, might soften the numbers before we go after her for real." She tucks her hands into two pockets so small as to be non-functional on the tattered noble jacket she wears. She crouches down next to where the half-orc still lays on the ground, looking at each of the remaining bandits in turn.

"We won't have any issue with you three, will we? It's well understood that a new hierarchy is moving in and I don't think any of you are dumb enough to die for the old pretenders to this land. Right?" She raises her brows, looking back down the line of them to judge their reactions and then giving a slight wink to the half-orc. "Much better to get in on the new way at the ground floor, with me, hm?"

Moto came out from behind the door and looked down at the minor carnage that was around. He stepped over the dead bodies and went to the stables to get his horse, Nightshade. Borric was already off and Moto began walking his horse out of the trading post. “Good dreams Pipre and Percy. To the rest I bid you all a farewell.” With that Moto mounted his horse and rode off, but in a different direction then Borric.

Eventually Borric managed to navigate his horse out of the trading post. But by that time the six bandits had a sizable lead. Could he take on six bandits? Alone? "Not today, not today." He stopped and sat upright on the horse. He turned and smiled when he found Bai at his side. It was a comfort to find her there. "Bai, we'll get them all. But today is not the day. Thanks for riding with me."

He turned his horse around and saw Moto leaving the trading post. "Moto!" Borric called out. He trotted over to the man that left the trading post. "Thank you for your help. You're an honorable man. Safe travels." He gave his hand to clasp.

Bai slows her horse as Borric comes to a stop. "I've not a mind for banditry, but I do know how to run a household. You don't send all your housestaff to retrieve a debt, you only send what you feel is necessary. Whoever leads these... people sent what they felt was needed to scare a pair of homesteaders who'd already acquiesced to their demands. Now that there's been a sign of resistance, it makes sense that their leader would want to stamp it out quickly and completely, lest their status be questioned. I don't think leaving them to return is a good idea, but I'll leave that decision to those of you more inclined to battle and tactics, I suppose." She watched as the knight went and had some words with Moto, who seemed to be leaving the group as promised. She was disappointed that he'd not been able to swallow his pride, but it wasn't her place to step in. Instead she stayed on her horse, watching the bandits as they rode away.

Moto shakes Borric's hand just before he rides off into the distance.

The skies are almost clear of birds this morning, just a single skein of geese heading north.

Adoven retrieved his dagger from the unlucky bandit and cleaned it on his shirt. "Does anyone else feel that was a little too easy?"

"We caught them by surprise." Borric stated as he re-entered the trading post. "Half a dozen got away. They'll be back so we'd better post a watch." He said with a nod in Bai's direction. She seemed to have wisdom and insight on how things might turn out. "Good job everybody. Well done. But I would hardly say that it was too easy." Borric's hair was singed and he smelled like oil. He spotted Oleg. "And Master Oleg, good shot with that crossbow!"

"We still have work to do here. I need someone that will take charge of questioning these bandits. We need to know how many they are and where they are located." Borric looked at his companions to see if anyone else had something to add.

Pipre stands and wanders around, gathering up a few rocks before moving back to the table. She clears her throat. "This here is the Trading Post we are in now," she says, putting down one rock. She then continues to put down rocks, "One camp is here, in the forest to the south, and another to the east of it. To the West there is Drowned Trees, a lovely little village.. or redoubt, for the outlaws and their lake pirate cousins. And finally..." she tosses the last rock up into the air and catches it before placing it on the the 'south' of the table. "The boss's manse is here."

She looks between Borric and then the three bandits. "That's about the jist of it. Two main camps, we could split up, do what we can scouting or dismantling, and then meet back up to storm the manse. Should be simple enough."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:12, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

"How did you come into this knowledge, Pipre?" Borric asked. He recalled the intimate details of what he thought she knew about the bandits. "What did you do before Henry hired you?"

Everything happened all at once and it caught Rook with his mouth open. Was fighting always like this, short and rough? Two dead before he could blink, a third suffering loudly among horses who weren't spared the violence. It seemed that even after the fighting was finished, things were happening more quickly than he could keep up with, but the ringing in his ears told him it might be something different.

Not willing to be left standing in shock, the young man sprang to action. He grabbed some rope from nearby and rushed over to the injured bandits and animals. With the coil in one hand, he held his holy symbol aloft and said a silent prayer, releasing a burst of healing warmth from beside the horses. Without pausing to check to see what injuries remained, he set about tying the hands of the bandits behind their back.

22:11, Today: Rook Sanderson rolled 3 using 1d6.  Channel Energy.

"By your asking I ken you have more or less sussed it out, Borric. Let's not kick any wasp nests." Her smoky tone doesn't carry an edge, it seems less like a threat and more like a request that peace be kept.

Borric and Bai decide not to persue the escaping bandits, who appear to be heading south, down past the Narlemarches Forest, and Moto says his goodbyes and heads off north again -  after deciding that he no longer wants to be part of this expedition.

Rook channels the restorative power of Old Dead Eye, healing members of the party, bandits and horses alike, as Percy and Pipre take control of the bandit prisoners.  Rikka helps calm the remaining horses, and Vik can finally close the gates of the outpost.

The prisoners are compliant, and even allow Rook to tie their hands without a struggle.  Meanwhile Pipre lays out the lay of the land, and Borric starts asking uncomfortable questions.  Perhaps, as Adoven suggested, it was all too easy?

Now everything appears to be under control, five new horses captured, three prisoners and two dead bandits – and henry should be here later today or tomorrow.

”I’m going to hang those damned bodies from the gate.” Oleg says with passion as he moves across to the two dead bandits and starts stripping them of their gear. ”Do you folks want any of their stuff?”

The three bandit prisoners look a bit sheepish and glance across at Pipre.

Moto's departure is not unexpected, but Percy is sorry to see his companion of the watch depart, and grateful for his assistance in the ambush, for his spell certainly saved further bloodshed.  "Take care !" he calls after Moto, lifting a hand in farewell.

"Oh, I thought it went rather well," Percy tells Adoven, once the bandits are securely roped.  "For us that is," he eyes the bandits with some sympathy for the three seem rather stunned. "They had rather a hard time of it."

"That was well done," he says to Rook as the young man heals the horses.  "Twas a pity they were caught in the fray."  He looks thoughtful. "Must write that down."

Bai's insights are well thought out ... Pipre's equally so, though her words to Borric on the back of the threats she made to the bandit's leader ... as she says, best leave that alone and be glad she's fighting on his side !

"The question is how soon they might return," Percy suggests as Pipre outlines the bandits' defences.  "If we can catch them at home that is all well and good, but if we 'pass in the night' then this homestead will be left undefended.  Mostly undefended, anyway.  That was a good shot," he concurs with Borric's assessment of master Oleg's skill.  "But e'en so ... there's strength in numbers."

"Do we fight here or beard them in their lair - if we can ?"

Seeming content with what she'd been watching, Bai pulls her journal out of her saddlebag and scribbles away for a few moments and then eases her new mount back towards the fort, catching the tail end of Pipre's mention of the bandit holdouts. She regards Oleg, "I suppose we should take an inventory of their belongings, there may be something of value."

She begins to get down from her mount, but then decides otherwise. "There is strength in numbers, however I think that's the problem we face. Right now we know that whatever the number was this morning at this forest holdout that Pipre mentioned, there are 5 less now. However if we wait, there could be a few dozen more in a day or so. When those six get back to their hideout they're going to make a decision, whether to take us out on their own or to gather reinforcements from one of their sister sites. Though Pipre, you seem in league with these bandits, perhaps you can offer some insight there." Her remark to Pipre seems more academically interested and less an accusation of wrongdoing. The woman flips through her journal and hums for a moment. "If those locations are accurate, the nearest stronghold is roughly 30 miles away, so a rider who pushes his horse could be there tonight. Then whatever reinforcements they send, either straight here or back to the forest stronghold could be at their location tomorrow evening. Though, that is based on the assumption that these horse are..." Bai shakes her head as she seems to stop herself from digressing.

"So I suppose the question is less of do we fight them here or there, but rather one of do we fight a smaller force somewhere between here and their forest stronghold, or do we hold up and wait to see what force comes here. I don't know our gracious hosts well enough to speak for them, but I'm willing to bet they'd rather the bloodshed not happen on their doorstep. So I'd vote that we leave a small group here, one or two at most, and the rest of us ride out immediately."

Adoven looks at Pipre and tries to gauge whether she wants to discuss her knowledge of the bandits more or not. He turns to the group at the table. "I think we have to pursue them. I do agree we cannot leave this place undefended though. I volunteer to be in the pursuit group. I'd like to have Vik with me as well. We seem to work well together. I think it might be best to attack small groups of them and pick them off. Sneak in, remove some, sneak out. Hit them again a couple hours later. Try to get them gone before they know what is going on.

In reply to Adoven (msg # 225):

"I agree, we ride out and harry them. I'll get my horse. It is best we do it soon, before a defense can be raised."

Vik cleaned the blood from her swords and took off to get her horse.

"They can afford to ride fast and recklessly, they are going home. We are going to a fight. Take it slow, keep our resources and strength up, and deal with their defenses when it becomes an issue. Be patient and don't underestimate the enemy; don't make the same mistake they made coming here, right?" Pipre sits down, crossing one leg over the other.

"Alright." Borric reply after several of his companions suggested that they search and track the fleeing bandits. "But we're going to need some provisions and supplies. It's best to be prepared and not to get caught off guard. Percy, can you make sure we have enough provisions and water. Don't worry Oleg, we've gold for these supplies."

"And do we have someone that knows how to track? Pipre - hopefully you'll know which direction they'll be heading based on their route. If we can get ahead of them, then we might ambush them again. Or find their camp tonight."

"Oleg, let's see what equipment the bandits have. I felt that we didn't have enough archers." Borric stopped by the wagon in the trading post. He pulled his chakram from the sidewall of the wagon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:24, Wed 13 Apr 2016.

Rikk keeps her own council through the discussions, but speaks up as the plan starts to develop.

"I'll stay here to keep an eye on the outpost, and wait for Mr de le Maistre.  What do you want to do with the prisoners?"

You take the equipment from the three captured bandit and leave them in the Shirts and britches,  while Oleg strips the dead bodies to their underwear in preparation for hanging the corpses from the walls of the outpost.  When you tally it all up have:-

• 1 Composite Short Bow
• 4 Short Bows
• 5 Quivers of  Shortbow Arrows
• 4 Short Swords
• 1 Masterwork Short Sword
• 5 Light Horses
• 4 Riding Saddles
• 1 Military Saddle

Percy nods his acquiescence to Borric's request, "I'll arrange for what we will need with our hosts. We might want to use the bandit's horses to carry the supplies, so we can travel faster ... and no doubt the beasts know their way home."

"I can use one of those bows," the young gentleman notes.  "I'm probably a bit rusty, though, so I'd like to get a bit of practice in first, if time permits, otherwise I'm sure the bandits we're hunting will oblige me !"

"Perhaps we should split up ?" he looks as if he hates himself for saying it. "One group to leave as soon as possible with a change of horses to find the bandit's camp and spy upon them to get the lie of the land.  Another lot of us to load up with supplies and follow as we can, trusting to our spotters to ride ahead of the bandits to warn us, should they set off before we get there ... and some to stay behind to secure and ward this place should any bandits get past us ?"

"Though I'm no tactician," he shrugs in apology.  "I was happy to leave the defence of the family caravans to those we employed for such things."

After tying up the bandits, ensuring that they would no longer be a threat to those within the walls, he helps gather up the new horses and takes them to the stables. The mounts they rode in on were more rested than these and probably had better dispositions to boot. Quietly he did his best to restore some sort of order to the remnants of the battle. He also helped Oleg drag the bodies out of the walls of the fort, though he couldn't help but offer unrequested advice. "I understand you're wantin' to send them a message. But hanging rotting bodies on the walls of your home is unclean. I'd suggest you hang them in the trees. That way they'll at least be useful fertilizer and food for the forest."

He walked the prisoners to the tables, sitting them facing outward and admonished them with a stern finger. "Sit. Stay. And live." The three were in no danger of dying and could wait until later to be fully inspected for lasting injuries. There was now the question of what to do. The group had been discussing it at length while he worked and he'd managed to catch bits and pieces of it.

"I'll stay behind with Rikka and wait for Henry to arrive. We can question the prisoners and then let Henry know what we think before he judges them or..." Rook paused and shrugged. "With the two of us and Oleg, we should be able to handle whatever small group might come."

Bia nods along with Rook's words. "I think you're right, the three of you should be able to handle anything that slips past us. If they do send for reinforcements, it's 30 miles there and 30 miles to here from that western stronghold, so assuming we're not waylaid for a day we should be back by then." Bai puts a hand to her mouth to indicate a moment of embarrassment, "Oh, look at me saying we." She nods to Borric, "As you're our leader for the moment, I suppose I shouldn't presume that I'll be riding out with whomever you decide is going. That said I think we're all in agreement that whoever is going should be leaving soon so that those that just left don't have too much time to prepare. Borric, what would you like us to do?"

"I agree. The three of them are capable enough fighters if someone does try to sneak back." Adoven looks over the equipment taken from the bandits and picks up the Masterwork Shortsword. "If noone else wants this it would be a fine weapon for me to use. Seems the same weight as my current one as well."

"I would like to claim the bandit leader's mount, if we return. I am not so vrash as to ride an unknown horse into known trouble though. The beast needs training first."

Vik nodded at Adoven taking the blade

"I'd think you'd do well taking that Adoven, I'll wait until I can purchase some castle-forged steel myself."

"Can we not just bury the dead, Oleg? Isn't hanging them up a little too barbaric? And think of the flies, you won't ever be able to be rid of them. This is supposed to be the foothold of a new civilized region, I think we could treat at least the dead with a bit of respect."

Oleg glowers at both Rook and Pipre as they make suggestions about the bodies, but Svetlana takes a more considered approach.

"I'll get him to take them down and bury them in a day or so, but it has been a long hard and frustrating few months at the hands of those men."  And her hard glance in the direction of the prisoners, makes it plain that they are not yet forgiven either.

"I understand. My only concern was the potential for bringing sickness in. It'd be a shame if they continued to hurt y'all even after they're dead." He reached a hand out as if to pat her on the shoulder, but stopped himself.

Pipre makes ready to leave or stay depending on whatever whoever is calling the shots calls.

"I'll take one of the bows as well." the young woman adds with a nod to Percy.

"It would be better to defend the outpost with arrows from the walls and towers if they return.  That has to be better than trying to ambush them with so few people."

At Borric’s request, Svetlana finds some dried fruit, honey-cakes and flatbreads but refuses all offers of payment  for helping you go after bandits who tried to rob her home.  She rounds that out with some of the food that Henry sent and packs them into small sacks -  one for each of you, each sack contains enough food to feed one person for three days.  ”No fee for those …” she tells Borric and Percy, ”… just sort those bandits out for us.”

Oleg leaves the bodies for a moment, and helps shuffle horses around so that the mounts you want to ride are all ready, while those that are to stay behind are securely tied behind the stables.

Adoven takes the short sword and checks the balance.  Liking it he takes the Bandit Leader’s scabbard from the pile and adds it, as well as the nice sword, to his own array of equipment.  At the same time, Vik make a claim on the bandit leaders, horse.  Oleg nods and leads that one into the stables proper.  ”I’ll make sure it is properly fed.” he comments gruffly.

Rikka takes one of the short bows and a quiver of arrows, but leaves the composite bow for Percy if he wants it.

It only takes fifteen to twenty minutes, the discussions are completed, rations found,  horses saddled and prepared, overnight gear collect and loaded, new weapons found and tested – and those who are leaving, are at the gate ready to go …

OOC- I’ll start new threads.

The composite bow is obviously the better weapon, but ... "Wasted on me, I'm afraid," Percy thanks Rikka anyway as he picks up an ordinary bow and a quiver of arrows.  "As I say, I'm out of practice - I'll be needing something with a lighter draw.  Don't want to strain myself !"

The decision for those in pursuit of the bandits to set out together is undoubtedly a good one - the sacrifice of speed for surety most likely the best option.

"Good luck to you ... to us all !" he calls back to those remaining behind as he wheels his horse about.

Borric took the composite shortbow when nobody else took it. He tested the draw weight before he took a quiver full of arrows, "Alright. It seems that we're ready to go."